Transfiguration, a retrospective by Japanese artist Leiko Ikemura, was exhibited at The National Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo). I went there on a whim, so I didn't know anything about this artist before.
The experience was normal. There were a few works that really stuck out, but I wasn't awed to the floor. I didn't think any of it was bad; I guess it just wasn't to my liking. Seeing art is a bit like falling in love; it strikes chords in your heart, usually inexplicable, and just draws you in. I didn't have that feeling this time, but I did appreciate her technical skill, along with her cohesive working theme.
Her paintings were of beautiful quality, in terms of materials. It was perhaps the subject matter that I simply didn't care about, but the paint itself was gorgeous. I stood for a long time, looking at Red Trees. I loved how she used jute instead of regular canvas; that raw feeling, soaked in that lush red, almost like pulsating blood, was indeed a sight to marvel at. It also felt strangely meditative, but this was perhaps due to the room it was located in.
That room also housed a series of her sculptures, these creepy busts of indistinct portraits. They stood behind a glass on the left side, and they were mirrored by writing on the opposite olive green wall. The text was all in Japanese, so I couldn't read it, but there was a translation on the furthest wall before leaving the room. It spoke about a tale that was later revealed as a dream. I must admit, with the serene yet creepy sound playing in the background, it was undeniably an interesting feeling. This was perhaps the most thought-provoking room of the exhibit.
I'm not a sculptor, so I can't really comment on them. But I thought it was pretty amazing to be able to paint and sculpt, while keeping their aethetics very similar. Ikemura's graps of these two disciplines really complimented eachother, and it seemed like her oeuvre worked best when they co-existed.
While searching for the images above (because we can never take photos inside the gallery!), I found these awesome drawings/watercolours that I'd like to share. They weren't exibited, but I'm sure if I saw them, I'd be drawn in.
Conclusion
The retrospective wasn't mind-blowing, but there were certainly pieces to marvel over. It was good to learn about a new artist, and see her progression throughout the years.
Tranfiguration by Leiko Ikemura was held at Tokyo's National Museum of Modern Art, from August 23rd to October 23rd, 2011.
