NANZUKA UNDERGROUND is pleased to announce our upcoming solo exhibition of new works by Yuichi Yokoyama. Included in the exhibition are 18 canvas pieces by Yokoyama made during his open studio sessions at NANZUKA AGENDA Shibuya from November 2010 through February 2011, as well as all 12 original illustrations from his manga, "Color Engineering", that appeared in STUDIO VOICE magazine as a yearlong series in 2004.
Yuichi Yokoyama was born in 1967 in Miyazaki, Japan. He received his MFA in oil painting from Musashino Art University in 1990 and has been active as a manga artist since 1995. In addition to his manga, Yokoyama's colorful paintings and drawings have also drawn a wide fan base and his works have been praised within the art scene. Yokoyama's works have appeared in exhibitions including "Record of neo-manga by Yuichi Yokoyama: I am drawing time" (2010, Kawasaki City Museum), "City net Asia" (2009, Seoul Museum of Art) and "Roppongi Crossing" (2007, Mori Art Museum). His talent, which can be confined to neither the contemporary comic nor art scene, has garnered attention around the world, and some of his latest works are slated to appear in the upcoming exhibition "MANGA" (2012, Centre Pompidou).
The "Color Engineering" exhibition title references Yokoyama's deep fascination with the scenes he creates depicting construction work, such as the building of roads, dams and buildings. "I love watching the building process, watching someone use specialized occupational tools or devices crafted from what is available," he says. "It's more enjoyable to witness that process, and the overall lapse of time during the creation of a building, than to simply observe the completed structure." Appropriately, the key themes that recur in Yokoyama's creations are time, process and passage. One distinct aspect of his works is the way in which he expresses the steady, rhythmic passage of time. The mysterious and fantastic landscapes he creates are also key to understanding Yokoyama's world. As a child, he moved constantly from place to place, witnessing many different lands along the way. "I am mesmerized by landscapes and nature," says Yokoyama. "The man-made world is so easily destroyed, and is so uncertain; in contrast to that, the natural world is enduring, divine even. Humans, standing before such a gigantic force, are so tiny; all we can do is sit back and watch." Yokoyama's awe and respect for nature are represented in his imagery, in the landscapes and episodes, the constant tension, and in the characters he creates.
Of the upcoming exhibition, Yokoyama comments:
"In this body of work I am trying to capture the tension between the natural world and human desire. Whatever theme or motif I select, what I am drawing is not the physical thing in the picture but rather the particular sort of time that exists there."
The opening reception along with the release party for his new manga, "Color Engineering", will be held on 3rd September starting at 18:00, and will be attended by the artist.
