Tokyo, Japan – WAITINGROOM is pleased to announce Saya Okubo “They”, her second solo exhibition at this gallery in two years. Okubo describes her work as “the act of exploring the existence and existence of things and people in two-dimensional space,” and creates paintings that coexist with two separate elements: symbolic images expressed as outlines, and phenomelal swells of images with a sense of materiality. The motifs represented by the contour lines are based on Okubo’s daily drawings of various parts of the human body and the various poses that humans perform on a daily basis. In this exhibition, the artist will present approximately 15 new paintings, including a new series called “They,” which combines multiple human parts and poses in one image, painted on corrugated plastic sheets.
About the artist
Born in 1992 in Fukuoka, currently lives and works in Kyoto. Graduated from Kyoto University of Art and Design with the Master’s degree in 2017. Her recent exhibitions include a group exhibition “Island with ONI” (2019, WAITINGROOM, Tokyo), a solo exhibition “a doubtful reply” (2018, WAITINGROOM, Tokyo), a group exhibition “Art Students Exhibition 2017” (2017, SEZON ART GALLERY, Tokyo), group exhibition “movement 2016 – 1st movement -“ (2016, ARTZONE, Kyoto), group exhibition “HERE I AM KUAD×TUNA Exchange Exhibition” (2015, Na paid Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan). Although she is a very young and flesh talent born in 1992 who has not had many exhibitions yet, her work attracted a lot of attention when she won the Masami Shiraishi Award at the 4th CAF Award Winning Exhibition (Daikanyama Hillside Forum, Tokyo), a group exhibition she participated in the fall of 2017.
Artist Statement
“theytheythey
Can you recognize one from them?
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How much is me and how much is you?
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Is this my decision or someone else’s?
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Overlapping Contours Linked Actions
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My outline expands and transforms
The new series of works focuses on the boundary between oneself and others in people’s images and senses, as seen in the increasing use of the singular form “they” in English-speaking countries. Using corrugated plastic sheeting as a surface of the painting, the artist depicts a motif of multiple people overlapping each other in an unstable picture plane that seems to be constantly shaking and vibrating. In addition, works featuring the act of “pointing”, which has appeared in paintings since ancient times as a sign of revelation, will also be exhibited, creating an exhibition space where visitors can be loosely guided by unspoken instructions.”
Saya Okubo
This exhibition is filled with new challenges, including the development of works on a new material, corrugated plastic sheeting, which Okubo had been planning for some time, and the development of circular canvas panels. Please look forward to the new series and new developments that will unfold while continuing the previous works.
Photo by Shintaro Yamanaka (Qsyum!) Edited by Peaky Studio