芸術家、梅田力紹介( Introducing Isao-Japanese version)

最近の長野での梅田イサオ展

梅田イサオは彫刻・絵画作家で最近は表現を広げるため漆を学んでいる若い芸術家である。道都大学を２００４年卒業した彼は最初サッカー選手として大学に来たが、三年のころから美術に真剣になり、卒業後個展をいくつか開くほど芸術活動しながら、長野県の高校で美術を教えていた。彼は昨年アメリカの東海岸と南の地方をまわり、ギャラリや美術館を見学し、今年の春は欧州をまわったらしい。海外で美術活動をしたい意欲はほんとうのようだ。

いつも梅田君の行動におどろかせる私だが、またそれが頼もしいし、責任なく外から見ているから面白い〈笑い）。梅田君は海外へ行くため英語を学んでいるそうだが、彼の作品については英語の文章に書いている、イサオ君読めるかな？理解できたらイギリスでもアメリカでも大丈夫だよ！

Introducing painter/sculptor- Isao Umeda

Photo above- Isao's studio in Nagano


Isao Umeda is a young sculptor/painter from Nagano, Japan who was my student at Dohto (class of 2004). Came to Dohto as a soccer player, he became seriously interested in art in his junior year. One of my biggest surprise in my teaching career, Isao became a serious artist and educator, as upon graduation, he became a high school art teacher in Nagano prefecture. After teaching four years there and having several one person exhibitions, he has decided to move on. Isao is currently expanding artistc expression by studying Japanese lacquer techniques. Interested in going aboard, he is also studying English. In fact, he has travelled around East coast and South regions of US last year visiting galleries and museums along the way. And he just came back from a visit to Europe. Isao's work is noted with spontaneity and an expressive, organic form. He loves to paint with colors, especially red, black and green, and though many of his works are abstract, at times primitive looking figures appear in his work. Perhaps more than any of the students that I have taught, his work has strong inner rhythmic quality which may come from his soccer and musical background. Well, I am curious to see what comes of his experiment with lacquer and his talks of going aboard.

芸術家、佐々木エミリ紹介 ( Introducing Emiry-Japanese version)

佐々木エミリはイギリスで活躍している若い、芸術家です。１０年ほど前、札幌の郊外の北広島市にある道都大学で私はエミリに立体造詣や彫刻などを教えたこがありますが、それ以前から彼女は独特な世界をもっていた、オリジナルなアーテストです。昨年サミットが行われた北海道のトヤコを見下ろす農家で育ったエミリ、彼女の学生のころの作品はとくにこの環境と家族のテーマがおおいように見えましたがイギリスに行ってからテーマもイメージも変わり、幅広く発展したようです。エミリは彫刻のほか写真、ドローイング、絵やコーラージなどで彼女のイメージの世界を描いていますが、イギリスにいってからとくに平面の作品に力をいれているようです。エミリは私が知っている芸術家の中でももっともエネルギィシュで彼女の作品集をみればそれが明らかになると思います。　左にある”芸術家やギャラリへのリンク｝をとおしてエミリの不思議な世界をぜひインターしてください。

http://www.emiryahg.talktalk.net/index.htm

Introducing Emiry Sasaki

Emiｒy is a Japanese artist living and actively participating in art activities in England. She was a student of mine ten years ago, but besides sculpture, she works in various art medium including drawings, photographs, collages and paintings. Even before I met her Emiry already possessed a very distinct style whose compositions are filled with fascinating, personal images. Emiry was one of the most energetic person I've known, and judging by the prolific production in her stay in England she seems to still possess this trait. To enter this fascinating world of Emiry, check the "Artists and Gallery Link" on the left of this blog or search for this site: http://www.emiryahg.talktalk.net/index.htm Image above "Self Portrait" by Emiry

Mankind with Creatures of Creation and of Imagination

In these works I have tried to combine People of the Tree of Life with various creatures of Creation and at times with those of tales, myths, and imagination. In a way this is a partial view of the Tree of Life where mankind intermingle with all kinds of life form. Several of these were made, but because of the contrast between the darkness of clay and the lightness of thread, I have not been able to take good photos; hence only few slides are available at this moment.

Work to the left is " the Prime Minister' 45cmx65cmx41cm 2007-8

The Wood

Woods in the Parts of Tree of Life series such as in the detail of Trunk piece #1 on the left and Trunk piece #2 on top are carved in such a way that softest parts are shaped. It is carved out like processes of nature where water, winds, currents and sands tear out the softer tissue and like in the driftwood, only the harder tissue retains. The result is a bony, ancient primeval form that I felt is the image of the Tree of Life.


左と上の木の幹の作品など「生命の木」の作品のなかでは木はある独特な方法で彫られた物もあります。これは水、風、砂やそれぞれの流れによって流木のように柔らかい部分が刻まれ、硬い細胞の部分が残る方法を真似た方法です。結果は骨っぽい、古代的な形のものが残り、そしてこれは私がもとめていた「生命の木」のイメージです。

The Thread

Thread is the essential that is found in almost all my Tree of Life sculptures. Besides visual effect, thread to me symbolizes gravity and light, invisible threads that tie, that unify various elements of the universe. It is the DNA, the RNA ... threads that code individuality of each living elements of the universe.

糸は私の生命の木のほとんどの作品に表れる重要な要素であります。美の効果のほか、私にとって糸とは宇宙の様々な要素をつなぐ光や引力など「透明な糸」を意味しています。同時にそれぞれ生物の個性・生命を表すＤＮＡ／ＲＮＡなどの「糸」の意味もふくまれていると思いながら制作しています。

People of the Tree of Life II

People of the Tree of Life, may seem a synthesis of a doll and a traditional figurative sculpture. What I seek in these sculptures is not a powerful realism as in those of Rodin, but something more down-to-earth as one sees in paintings by Bruegels and prints by Hokusai that depicts everyday life of people in easily understandable manner. To achieve this, I have simplified and somewhat elongated the proportion such as in "In the Living Room" and "Young Lady with an Orange Coat" above. Some of these effects I am satisfied; others, such as elongation need to be further developed. Most of the figures in the photo album of this blog are those of woman as I have try to master the feminine form and manners first, but many figures that I have worked on towards the end of my stay in Japan were those of man, child and aged. Unfortunately, many were left unfinished there when I returned to Oregon.

Side view of "Young Lady with an Orange Coat", Mix Media Assemblage-including clay, wire, cotton cloth, and cotton cord (2m25cmx57cmx65cm) 2006

People of the Tree of Life

People of the Tree of Life are what I call figurative sculptures that I have been making that are part of the Tree of Life theme. With these works I would like to make commentary statements on various relationship between mankind and Nature which for myself is another name for the Creation or the Tree of Life: Man as a part of the Nature, Man coexisting with Nature, and Man separated from Nature, living in an anthrocentric environment.

In the People of the Tree of Life works, people are depicted in several versions including-expressive, natural, classic and giant. In the natural version, figures are uncolored and unstained with just a coating of liquitex matt varnish to protect the surface of the work. The result is lightness in mood. Stained works which I call 'classics' are weightier. Though present works are made of clay, these I eventually plan to make in bronze which seems more appropriate.

Above, "Meditative Figure" An example of expressive version of People of the Tree of Life. 2001-203

Face Fruits

Face Fruits are the fruits of the Tree of Life. At the Harvest, each individual fruits representing each indiviual matures. With these I have exaggerated facial characteristics to emphasize the main features similar to African sculpture or folk art.　

Above, "Little Jane" Lｅｆｔ, " Prince of Northern Isles"

フェースフルーツは生命の木の果物。収穫の時期にそれぞれ一人一人を表すフェースフルーツが塾する。これらはアフリカの彫刻か民芸のように主な部分を主張するため表情をおおげさにして造られた。

上、「リトールジェーヌ」　左、「北の島国の王子」

Parts of the Tree of Life

In these works, I have tried to visualize the form of the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is a mythical tree that is found in various myths, legends, tales, and religious stories of the world. For me in one aspect it is both a symbol for the whole universe and the cosmic Consciousness beneath it. In another, it is a metaphor for interconnection and individuality of all living beings and non-living matters. The theme appeals to me greatly perhaps because I was raised and nurtured in two contrasting cultures: one, a homogeneous Japanese society that stress interrelationship and another, American culture where uniqueness is valued. Each sculpture in this series, " Parts of the Tree", as name implies, represent parts of the Tree of Life: the Tree is too large, too intangible of an image and too rich of a theme to be able to realize in a single work of art, so attempt is being made to depict through fragmentation.Because these sculptures are segments of an imaginary existence, in these works it maybe difficult for people to see the form of the Tree. In time, with an improvement in my artistry, creation of more pieces, and through simplification, people will hopefully, begin to see in my art, my intention and grasp my 'vision'

Left, "Parts of the Tree of Life: a Plant Stalk, 240cm tall (about 8ft.) mix media including clay, fiber, wood and cotton cord, 2001

Introducing Mario Caoile

Mario is a painter/ sculptor friend from olden days. Mario and I and his wife, Helen used to go fishing together early in the 80's. I'm sure they won't admit it but I was the best fishermen of the three (laugh). Mario aged well as he looks distinguish as if he were Gandhi's grandson or when dressed, ambassador from Philippine. Currently he exhibits work at Blackfish Gallery in Portland, Oregon. To see more of his work, check the Artist and Gallery link list.

芸術家のマリオはフィリッピン系アメリカ人で昔からの友人である。画家であったが溶接を自己で学び鉄の彫刻作品なども制作している。彼とロシア系アメリカ人の奥さんのヘレンとは８０年代に魚釣りにいったりし、時間をつぶした仲間で最近また会うようになった。このブローグ作りを進めて手伝ってくれているのも彼ら。マリオはユーツブが好きで彼のビデオーには少なくても二回ほど私は写っているようだ。彼がカメラを持つたんびシャーイーなは逃げ回っている。外見的にマリオは上手く年をとっているようで、ガンジーの孫かフィリッピンの大使みたいな観勒のあるロックスーをもつようになってきたようだ。ちょっとうらやましい〈笑い）。若いころは犯罪者かゲリラ兵に見えたのに。。。ちょっとヒガミかな？〈笑い）マリオは今はブラックフィシュギャラリーの会員でそこで作品を展示している。芸術家とギャラリーのリンクで彼のホームページやブローグにいける。

Blackfish Gallery

Blackfish Gallery is a co-op gallery in Portland, Oregon that was founded in 1979. It held a thirtieth anniversary dinner party on Saturday evening April 4th. I being one of the founding member was invited by its current members. For more, see Blackfish links on the left.

ブラックフィシュギャラりーは１９７９年にオレゴン州ポートランド市に創立した共同ギャラリーです。この前の四月四日土曜日に三十年記念ディナーパーティを開き、私は創メンバの一人でしたのでこのお祝いに紹介された。お祝いの様子は上のthirtieth anniversary dinner partyて線が引いてあるところを開いたら見えます。恥ずかしいながら私もちょっぴり写っているようです。創立したころはほとんどのメンバたちは二十代から三十代だったが今ではおじいさん、おばあさんになっていた。二十年以上も会っていない仲間たちが多く、長い年月がたったあと会うとやはりショックだった。またも浦島太郎になった気分。でもみんな気持ちは若かった。