SHINGANIST: Curated by Usugrow @ Upper Playground May 7th

:SHINGANIST: Curated by Usugrow

USUGROW, MOZYSKEY, TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA, BENE and JUN KANEKO. Although the history that came from America and Europe is still new, they were born and raised in Japan, and they met and got inspired by creative imported culture (music including punk rock, hip-hop, and other club music, skateboard, graffiti and tattoo, but note that tattoo is a special case since there has been an original tattoo culture in Japan, and also outfit including those factors) when they were teenager, then they got clear creative chance to express by relating it, and they became wholly devoted to not only artwork but also its action and philosophy behind. (Not that all the artists are influenced by things mentioned above) Although their arts are often summed up roughly with the words 'street art,' there is a nature extracted from each influences and a basic nature that they've looked back deeply at in everyday life in Japan as Japanese. When these natures got blended together, their artworks get simply realized as art and not necessary to be categorized anymore. Just because you create something based on Japan as subject, it doesn't make an artwork Japanese. What is important is that the feeling and the process behind the artwork, and they surely reflect to artwork. Therefore, the nature of Japanese appears strongly in medium and process of expression than subject matter. Since Internet has popularized, traveling overseas isn't hard anymore, various races have been mingling and the world is becoming borderless in our consciousness now, any reference to national identity might have been already reduced. However, there are definitely new expressions generated by this generation. This show is for many people who love art. And there will be also a new art book featuring the five artists coming out along with the show.

Text by Blackdot (Shingan Art Publishing, Inc.) & Usugrow
Transrated by Reddot (Shingan Art Publishing, Inc.)



USUGROW / He started his activity as artist by creating punk rock flyers, and he still continues making art for album covers, skateboards and clothing as well as more personal illustration and painting works. He skillfully and beautifully portrays opposing elements including delicate line and unique lettering style, skull and flower, black and white, yin and yang in a picture. He believes that this is everyday life and living proof because these opposing elements can exist together. He might have been unconsciously expressing his thought by using black and white in his artwork.



MOZYSKEY / His style is edgy and startling and instantly brings strong tension to the audience. But that sense of tension may bring relief that mimics feelings of resignation instead of frightfulness. The essence of street bombing has been well honed and it's going to next level, and you can see that in his artwork. And the essence appears everywhere whether on canvas or in open space. The lettering style is even more unique, his mysterious existence is also a part of his artwork by using several names and leaving traces all over the world.



TOSHIKAZU-NOZAKA / Artist, Tattooer and Skateboarder. There are three main means of expression that he uses and something that is common to all means is the concentration power for getting through with resulting lines instantly and the typical Japanese and noble sense of respect behind vigor. He's been active simply as a contemporary artist by absorbing both Western and Japanese culture from these three means of expression and sublimating them into new aesthetic feeling. He also runs his own skate company called Asianwave skates.



BENE / Some time ago, people used to call a strange existence or phenomenon beyond knowledge "specter" in Japan. It's the ancient indigenous concept of fear that Japanese people have learned from nature. He portrays those invisible sign of presence and the feeling in Japanese nature, towns, and canvas. His artwork might remind us the indigenous concept and sixth sense that we've lost in urban life.



JUN KANEKO / Just like rotten plants, and fading irons and buildings that he likes, the color of black dissolved in water often appears in his artwork has a charm like an antique which gets more beautiful and venerable as time passes. There is no negative and decadent atmosphere there. From his artwork, you can actually feel positive and creative atmosphere that is trying to create something slowly with time. Since there are full of new things coming out every day, his artwork style that he creates by coincidence, not by going against of the times, may seem very quiet but fresh to you.