On View
Not on viewObject number2023.39
Contrast Full Circle
Artist
Tomokazu Matsuyama
(Japanese, 1976)
Date2022
Mediumacrylic and mixed media on canvas
Dimensionscanvas: 5 × 5 × 2 in. (152.4 × 152.4 × 5.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mr. Jamal Afakir, Mr. Norbert Becker, Mr. Fatah Boudjelida, and Mr. Keith O’Donnell
Exhibition History"Sugoi! 200 Years of Japanese Art," KIA, Galleries 2 & 5 (May 13, 2023 - September 24, 2023)Label TextAfter moving to New York, Matsuyama became acquainted with the work of artists like Keith Haring, which inspired him to enroll in Pratt Institute’s graphic design program. Matsuyama’s exposure to the graphic arts and street art has been influential in shaping his practice. The artist blends historical imagery from the East and West, along with ephemera and more contemporary visual references, allowing viewers to use their own personal histories to inform his paintings’ narratives.
Matsuyama’s graphic rendering of cherry or red plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, irises, and other flowers within Contrast Full Circle, recalls the importance of the natural world frequently depicted in Japanese printmaking. A figure at the center of the scene wears blue loafers and a robe of varying designs, reflecting the intersection of both classical and contemporary histories. The juxtaposition of flowers, vibrantly colored birds, and the seated, yet contemplative figure-ground against a glittering baroque style background in gradiating pinks and yellows, along with a metal chair and black flooring create an arresting and curious composition. Matsuyama creates an almost otherworldly and idyllic setting that bridges, and even blends, past and present, revealing the unexpectedly delightful results that arise from combining vastly different cultural perspectives. [Label for “Sugoi! 200 Years of Japanese Art", 2023]
