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Ai Udagawa

Sign

2012.2.25 (Sat) ～ 3.31(Sat)
Gallery hour : Tue-Sat　12pm-7pm　
／ closed on Sun., Mon., public holiday
opening reception : On Saturday 25th February 6pm ～ 8pm

Sign
　90 x 90 x 5cm
acryl, charcoal on silk, 　2011

Metamorphose
72.5 x 24 cm
acryl , color pencil 　2012

We are going to stage an exhibition of works by Ai Udagawa, following the first one it held in 2009.

In producing works, she begins by dyeing pure white silk material with subtle hues. The world on the other side depicted in the delicately dyed silk comes faintly into view, indicating that the artist's sensibility is always closely intertwined with the real world.

As if to slash these pale and soft images, the artist sometimes produces icy white stretches and hard cold trees that seem to symbolize views of the world and life rooted in her firm resolve.

This may take the form of a path winding into snowy mountains in the dead of winter. The image of trees standing in a frozen wasteland conveys the warmth of a vital force nurturing a scant subsistence in the bitter cold. The beauty heaving sighs in the cool atmosphere conjures up the glow of life.

Perhaps Udagawa's works are landscapes we have seen, or have wanted to see, at some time. The cosmos portrayed in them may very well be a chronicle of the life-fostering force per se all of us are apt to forget as we go about our daily routine.

<Comment by the artist>
I portray two worlds separated by seemingly endless paths, rivers, mist, and other elements. In the face of nature, the viewer can do nothing but stand there, overwhelmed by the majesty and severity of the landscape unfolding before his or her eyes.
From time to time, messengers travel from one world to the other upon metamorphosis into birds or boats. The two different worlds exist apart, but with channels of contact between them.

I set about creating these works with an awareness of things and circumstances that definitely exist, though we have no way of confirming that existence.
I've chosen "Sign" as the title for this exhibition because the works are imbued with a sense of premonition or inkling of such things not visible to us.

Biography

Ai Udagawa
Born 1979 in Tokyo
Lives and works in Tokyo

1999-2003 Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, B.F.A.
2003-2004 Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, M.F.A.
2005-2008 Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste Karlsruhe

Exhibitions & Awards
2012
"Ai Udagawa solo exhibition", C SQUARE, Chukyo University, Nagoya
“Sign”(solo exhibition), Kido Press, Inc., Tokyo, Japan

2011　
“Ai Udagawa solo exhibition”, Cafe´ Mikazuki-za, Tokyo

2010
“Tasting Art 2010”, Hankyu department store, Osaka

2009
"developing Utopia”(solo exhibiton) , Kido Press, Inc., Tokyo, Japan
"Art@Agnes 2009” (KIDO Press, Inc.) Tokyo, Japan

2008
“Summer Exhibiton 2009”(solo exhibiton), Galerie Poly, Karlsruhe, Germany
“Ai Udagawa solo exhibition”,Muchraum, Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste Karlsruhe, Germany

2007
"Middltec - Lithografieprojekt" , Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste Karlsruhe, Germany
"Newcomer Exhibition 2007", Japan Artists Association Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2006
"2006 Summer Exhibition",Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste Karlsruhe, Germany

2005
"2005 International Triennale of Printmaking", Kochi, Japan
"JUSTIZIA", by Prof. Dr. W. Hoffmann Riem, Karlsruhe, Germany

2003
"KIRAKU", PROJECTGALLERY PROMO-ARTE, Tokyo, Japan
"Printing Collection of Master Course", Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
　*Received the Edition Prize from SEPTENI CO.
"The 28th Printing Exhibition of University of Art & Studies", Machida Municipal Printing Museum, Kanagawa/ Wimbledon School of Arts, U.K.
　*Received the 28th Printing Exhibition of University of Art Award from the Committee of University of Art & Studies in Japan

2002
"The 27th Printing Exhibition of University of Art & Studies",Machida Municipal Printing Museum, Kanagawa, Japan