kenji shibata, "painting"


mar. 14 - apr. 11, 2009
taguchi fine art,ltd.











































Kenji Shibata was born in Niigata prefecture in 1971 and now resides in Moriya, Ibaraki. Completed postgraduate Studies in Oil Painting Course at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1998. Since his first one person show at Gallery Q in Tokyo in 1997, Shibata has been presenting his works in several one person shows in Tokyo and some group shows as "Fiction ? - Painting in the Age of the Virtual" at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo in 2002 or "Attempt" at Museum Haus Kasuya, Yokosuka in 2007 (curated by an artist, Mr. O Jun). Gradually his works are getting people's attention.


Flat painting like a mirror

Ever since he was studying at university, Shibata has been creating abstract monochrome paintings which could be said to be orthodox at a glance. They are composed with delicate colors and distinguished by those smooth and shiny surface like mirror. His work is usually done on panel covered with arches paper. At first he spreads glue over its surface to prevent it from absorbing oil, and next pours limited numbers of color of paints, then uses brushes and constructs the flat surface. There produced a subtle sign of red or blue color absorbed in dark brown, dark gray or dark green color which is dominant in his painting. Sometimes we can feel certain depth, light, images like scenery or illusion in it. His beautiful paintings full of calmness, with high completeness and feeling of tension, attract us very much.


Painting as a film

The attempt by Shibata is to investigate the breaking point where painting can stand up as a painting, while he restraining himself to exploit the elements or condition that have been forming painting until now - color, form, composition, brush stroke or illusion or even the title as much as possible. He persists in smoothness/ flatness as seen in the surface of western traditional painting, operating brushes in order to bring about a sense of depth bouncing our eyes at a certain point. It can be said that it is a trial to reduce painting to the horizon of its genesis, namely plane/ two dimensions characteristics as a thin film. And nothing but his awareness of the difficulty to create such abstract paintings in the present age gives his works this strength and a feeling of tension.


This installation is Shibata's first appearance at taguchi fine art. New paintings on canvas replacing of arches paper will be on view for the first time. Please come to take a look at his new works which contain abundance and new possibility of painting.


Checklist of the installation

1.
195740972, 2009, 65.4 x 80.5 cm

2.
585647986, 2009, 53.2 x 65.4 cm

3.
526885889, 2008, 53.2 x 65.4 cm

4.
285255906, 2009, 50.2 x 60.8 cm

5.
082080957, 2008, 38.2 x 45.7 cm

6.
196074089, 2008, 38.2 x 45.7 cm

7.
130765430, 2008, 38.2 x 45.7 cm

8.
615061479, 2008, 22.2 x 27.5 cm

9.
288822387, 2008, 22.2 x 27.5 cm

10.
300479769, 2009, 22.2 x 27.5 cm

11.
992431437, 2009, 22.2 x 27.5 cm

material of all works: oil on canvas