Somewhat unrelated, but I am still in Bangkok as I write this.  If you are going to be here next week, you will have a chance to see some good graduation shows from Silpakorn Univeristy.

I was at the Silom Galleria today and saw a very good show at Jorn Middleborn’s Thavibu Gallery and also liked the sculpture show from MFA Grads of Silpakorn University on the first floor.

Nothing else grabbed me there today.

Been thinking about our new artist, Atsushi Takahashi and the interest there is in his work from overseas.  He is a graduate of Tama Art University and was very well received at the recent Geisai Exhibition organized by Takashi Murakami.

When I see his work, it reminds me works of Jackson Pollock and the masks of some very well-respected artists like the Chinese Zeng Fanzhi and the Filipino artist Winner Jumalon.  Atsushi does not know these artists–except maybe Jackson Pollock, and developed his techniques on his own.

His paintings of faces and bodies are covered with an acrylic paint “mask” which both distorts the image and makes it more friendly and accessible.  Like Fanzhi, he is always pushing  the border between image and background. The appeal of Atsushi’ work comes from his own shyness and vulnerability.  He portrays emotions under cover and raises a high level of curiosity in the viewer.  We had his works in our  Portraits Show, and you can see it in the Kansai area in August since we will also show his work at Art Osaka.