LONDON meets OKINAWA.

英文の作家紹介です。

クリプトギャラリーウェブには、Loochoo展作品の紹介も少し載っています。
http://www.cryptgallery.org.uk/current_exhibitions.htm


LOOCHOO

‘TIME’


Hiromi Tsuha - Visual artist (London base)
Tsuha’s work is shown and is drawn from a very personal starting point. Almost autobiographical in nature, her art has an ephemeral quality which arises from the transient nature of the objects that she uses. Tsuha often seeks to locate and present memories within her site specific work, her choice of her materials is always crucial. Simultaneously poetical and playful, her work continues to explore the motivations that we all have to find, a place of our own in the face of all that we have lost, and the decisions we must encounter to realise our desires. Tsuha graduated from MA Printmaking, Camberwell College of Arts, University of Arts London in 2007 with Distinction. She was selected for 2010/2011 AA2A Residency artist at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge School of Arts.

HP: http://hiromitsuha.com

 
Atsushi Izena - Ceramic artist / VIVACE CEO.
Products he has designed include, an easy to grip mug for the elderly and children, and a fruit bowl that helps to keep fruits fresher for longer. His work incorporates both creativity and practical design.
Izena founded the venue called VIVACE, it has a ' lively ' concept which is inspired by his observations, that to help others and work together often means you collectively get back more than you put in. In 2008 Izena set up a project called 'THAI' with Hiroshi Tanaka, the owner of the YOKANG apparel brand. They produced a fusion of dyed goods and Atsushi's ceramic designs. THAI joined the Okinawa design promotion group and exhibited at Okinawa exhibition in December 2008 and Tokyo in 2009. In the same year their work was used to promote ‘MUGI SHOKUNIN’ Orion beer. Since 2010, his art has been on display throughout the Tomigusuku central hospital health-care-administration centre.

VIVACHE HP: http://www.vivace-life.jp

 
Hiroshi Tanaka - Textile designer
In 2002 Tanaka became the head of textile design and dyeing for the apparel brand, YOKANG
He proposed the new style incorporating traditional Okinawa dyeing techniques; Bingata and Aigata.
In 2008 Tanaka Founded the THAI design project with Atsushi Izena. At the same time Tanaka Produced many collections in Japan and internationally under the YOKANG Brand, and also receiving a number of prizes for designs along the way. His designs have been worn by numerous famous artists and actors from Okinawa. In 2011 he held his first private exhibition at the Ishigaki Penguin Gallery in Okinawa. Then along with Kado Toshirou (an artist specialising in creating kaleidoscopes) they produced a collection of traditional Okinanwan Bingata dye designs for the Plaza House Global Gallery in Okinawa.

YOKANG HP: http://www.yokang.jp/index.htm


pokke104 : Yukino Ikeshiro – Illustrator

Her work is inspired by Okinawan traditional handcraft designs. Her work includes plants and sea creature motifs using unique detail and colour. She has undertaken a wide variety of activities including live painting shows, workshops for all ages, illustrations for advertisements and media, mural painting and textile designs. She is recognised as one of the leading female illustrators in Okinawa and is well known across Japan. Her work is widely known for the collaboration with HONDA. She also participated in the Okinawa creator's collection, where she designed a postcard, using the Disney character Stitch for TV broadcasting Walt Disney Japan. In 2006 she won the Suntory Museum prize at the Osaka Art Stream live paint show.

Website: http://www.pokke104.com 

 
LEQUIOSIAN : Taichi Naka, Eriko Naka - Fashion designer
Their aim is to express the image of the 'LEQUIOSIAN' people - a fictitious nomadic tribe. The designs represent the methods and fabric of Okinawa in an efficient and economical sewing style to provide versatile and flexible use of wearing. It could be said that the basic concept of their style is of a ‘thinking design’.They often use the textile designs and print art from their printmaking father, Bokunen Naka. They have had many successful products like ‘Poloyushi’, the Poloyushi is a combination design of the Kariyushi shirt (meaning "harmony" or "happiness" which is a style of dress shirt originating in Okinawa, similar to the aloha shirt, mainly worn in summer) and the polo shirt. In Feburuary 2012 they participated in the "KAMI GAKARI 2012" Exhibition at Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum.

cochinda studio blog : http://ameblo.jp/cochinda
Akara HP : http://www.akara.asia/


 
Kyota Matsudo - Visual Artist (Glass)
After studying at Tokyo Glass Art Institute, Matsudo led the design and production at a blown glass studio in Nagasaki. He then travelled to New York where he produced works at ‘UrbanGlass’ and studied at The National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts NY. After this he was in a group exhibition titled 'Textile and Glass ART' at the Williamsburg Art & Historical Centre. In 2004 Matsudo won a prize at "Japan Craft Exhibition'. After he returned he continued with his work as a glass artists whilst assisting with the rendition of musicals, plays and opera with the producer Amon Miyamoto. In 2006 he had his first solo exhibition in Tokyo, and held a 2 people show with Amon Miyamoto. In 2007 Matsudo Designed Laglass works - a fusion of 'Ryukyu glass' and 'Urushi' (Japanese lacquer). His recent work is based on developed products which use Pyrex glass.

Official blog : http://www.commons-sense.net/blog-08



decco : Moritaka Nakamura, Satoko Nakamura - Potter unit

decco creates predominantly tableware. Porcelain is their signature work. Their creations have appeared in numerous articles and magazines. In 2006 they exhibited at the ' Artist in Yokohama Red Brick warehouse' and in the same year they had a solo show titled 'MIX Life-Style'. The most recent show was at 'Kobo kara no Kaze (wind from craft)" in Chiba (near Tokyo). The popularity of their work is mainly due to their collaborative approach, working with artists of various disciplines and concepts.

decco HP : http://www.decco.jp/2010/index.php
Blog : http://decco.ti-da.net/



Aya Taira - Visual artist

Graduated from Department of Art Education, School of Education, Ryukyu University, Okinawa.
She observed the world around us and viewed the natural phenomena which are usually unnoticed in everyday life. She then added new layers of perspective to reflect “somewhere” and “here” in a modern, humorous style. Her work crosses different media including video, photography, installation, drawings and textiles. She has wide participations in group-exhibitions and event-work shops. The most recent exhibition includes 'On the Earth-Uchu no hitokakera (Little piece of space) exhibition in 2011. Taira is one of the most popular contemporary artists within Okinawa prefecture.

web album : https://picasaweb.google.com/tairaaya
Blog : http://tairaraya.blogspot.com


Eiten Oshiro - Painter
His work uses paint and coloured pencils and his sculptures are made from steel and iron. He has tirelessly held private exhibitions every year from 2002. He is one of the most promising emerging artists in Okinawa. In 2008 Oshiro had his first overseas solo show in New York and designed 'Mongol 800' 's CD cover, for one of the most popular Okinawan band in the recent years. In 2009 Oshiro performed Live Painting in Miyakojima Rock Festival. His most recent artists performance was at MONGOL 800's music festival named 'what a wonderful world' with Hiroshi Tanaka and pokke104 in 2011.
HP : http://www.eiten-style.com


Chihiro Furugen - Paper Jewellery designer
Graduated from Department of Design Education, Okinawa Prefectural College of Art.She mainly works as an in-house product graphic designer at VIVACE, but as a freelance graphic designer, she has also designed corporate, event leaflets, booklets and packages etc. Furugen was also in the 'KAMI GAKARI 2012' exhibition, which expresses the beauty of paper.Her presented work ‘Paper Jewellery’ is made of 100% paper, no metal is used, as Furugen herself, is allergic to metal on her skin. Her way of thinking is ‘paper is the new metal’. She hopes that her work will inspire people to think differently about paper and its usage.

blog : http://chihirofurugen.ti-da.net


HOME : 12 collective artists (Moving image)
‘HOME’ , a concept jointly planned by Tsuha and Taira in Okinawa in 2010 has been screening at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Club Else, Z space . Each artist from Okinawa and London depicted the HOME within a 5 minute video work. This is a first screening in a foreign country.
Artists based in Okinawa : Aya Taira, Masahiro Sonobe, Daniel Lopez, Kin☆Mari,Sayo Yamazato and Kobashigawa Kei/Togase Teppei (artist unit).
Artists based in London : Hiromi Tsuha, Daniel Bevan, Guler Ates, Andrew Kean-Hammerson, Guy Oliver, Wiktor Gacparski


25th April Private view performance by

Lacorde : Kenichi Kawamura and Masato Higa
a musical duo
piano and Sanshin(a traditional Okinawan 3 string instrument)
Lacorde released their first album “TSUKINU KAISHA” in 2010.
Lacord website : http://lacorde-okinawa.com

Yuko Izena
Ryubu - Traditional Dance
VIVACE HP: http://www.vivace-life.jp

pokke104 & Eiten Oshiro
Live painting with music by Kenichi Kawamura
and London okinawa Sanshin kai
http://sites.google.com/site/londonsanshin/home