Report: solo exhibition Yoshiyasu Tamura at KYAS ART SALON

On 23 February KYAS ART SALON was the location for the opening of the solo exhibition of the new works of artist Yoshiyasu Tamura. This artist has previously exhibited at the art salon, including the very first artist who was allowed to exhibit at this location in Amsterdam. The artist knows how to create works that stand out because of the use of colour and the feminine characters that he influences with large manga on paper or canvas.

KYAS ART SALON is not that big, but could fill dozens of visitors who shared the same interest: art. While Yoshiyasu Tamura is working on his artwork, with a model that poses in person for the artist. This wat he could get the work done on the canvas in the right way. Meanwhile, visitors could also look at the various works he has made, the well-known works with gold leaf and living colours. What is striking about the work that Tamura tries to complete before the audience in comparison with the works on the wall: it is black and white and has more the connection with what Tamura’s background is: a manga artist.

It was possible to have a small interview with artist Yoshiyasu Tamura about the current exhibition.

AVO: During the opening, you had to paint in front of an audience, how was this experience?
Yoshiyasu: I always enjoy my live-painting in front of many people very much. I love to feel the audience’s reaction directly, as it is impossible in my studio when I was a Manga artist.

AVO: In total, how many time did you spend to make this painting?
Yoshiyasu: 5 hours: 3 hours pre-painting of basic colours, and 2 hours in front of people.

AVO: What do you enjoy the most? Paint in black-and-white (manga style) or with colour and gold plate?
Yoshiyasu: I can not say that because those 2 kinds of painting styles are completely different. Both of them has its own style.

AVO: Jorogumo is a painting with silver plate. I didn’t notice at first, because of the yellow and gold tones in the painting. Why did you choose to use a silver plate?
Yoshiyasu: Actually, it is not silver, tin is used in this painting. Dark silver means Yakuza taste in Japanese culture. In Japanese culture, silver with not so many shining has meaning like this – beauty with strongness for outlaw.

AVO: Jorogumo is the centrepiece of the current exhibition. Why? Can you tell me something more about this painting?
Yoshiyasu: Jorogumo is a kind of Japanese monster “yokai”, who catches and kills men in the water. Some areas in Japan, especially the Tohoku area, Jorogumo is a goddess of water. Because this spider makes their web house near water to catch small insects, but they do not make their house in a dangerous place. If you find a spider web near water, that means ‘there is water near here but here is safe’. I started to paint those kinds of goddesses of Japan after the 2011 Tsunami.

Meanwhile, a number of works from New York have come over and the exhibition has been extended until 6 May 2018.