“THE WAY”

8 JULY – 10 AUGUST 2022 

The first exhibition at IAM Contemporary Art will be a group show entitled “THE WAY”. 

This exhibition introduces the works of seven Japanese artists, who continue to express themselves through a variety of techniques, from paintings and sculptures to conceptual art works, while each one of them is working in different regions and countries. By coincidence or destiny, their works now meet and create a space in the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. Together with artists from faraway Japan, we hope you will enjoy this exhibition, which marks the beginning of a new era for Malta as a center of art, the island that has fascinated people from across the world throughout history. 

We look forward to seeing you at IAM Contemporary Art this summer. 

ARTISTS

HIROKI OKUMA (B. 1988) 

Born in Saitama prefecture, Japan. Okuma completed a Masters in Oil Painting at the Tokyo University of the Arts. He creates exquisitely detailed photorealistic still lives and portraits, working in oil, pencil, acrylic, resin, and other media. His works expresses an idea that has long been an alternative to religion in Japan by placing motifs that symbolize both human and natural time frames on the same canvas. 

MASAKATSU KONDO (B. 1962) 

Born in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Currently based in London. He graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London in 1993. Solo exhibitions include “Between the Parallel” at Kohji Ogura Gallery and “Botany” at David Risley Gallery. His works were included in group exhibitions such as “Extinction Exhibition Annihilation” at Victoria Miro Gallery and “Prime“ at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. His works are in collections of the Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi and the Zabludowicz Collection. 

MIO YAMATO (B. 1990) 

Born in Shiga, Japan. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Kyoto University of Art in Fine Art and Mixed Media, in 2013 and 2015 respectively. She has exhibited her works in museums such as Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art and project N / Tokyo Operacity art gallery. She will develop hers without a concrete image of completion. Without a concrete image of completion, the paintings are organic and emerge at the end of the repetition of pure actions, embracing the passage of time on the canvas. The images are organic, embracing the passage of time and the reality of the body. Through the use of various materials, bodies and actions, he attempts to visualise the sublime nature and its systems, just as a tree ages one year after another according to the natural order. “In a white space, I draw a red dot. Then the empty space is transformed into a blank space with meaning. Relying on the existence of this dot, I draw a new one. Relationships are born, and the power of the blank space changes as well. The dots multiply and slowly take shape, accepting change, like an organic puzzle. I want to entrust the existence of the soul to this single point. Each of these irreplaceable beings influences each other and creates the real world. That is what I want to portray.” 

NAOYA INOSE (B. 1988)

Born in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. He lives and works in London. He graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he specialized in Oil Painting, in 2012 and received his MA (Fine Art) at UAL Chelsea College of Art And Design in 2017. Inose was a participant of 21st DOMANI, and he has exhibited his works in museums such as National Art Center Tokyo and Takamatsu City Museum of Art. His works are included in the Takahashi Collection and in the Benetton Foundation. Inose’s work explores the tension between the natural world and its grasping appropriation by human influence. Inose uses oil painting techniques to create both meticulously realistic landscapes and abstract oil paintings on canvas. His works of art create an inquiry of our relationship and understanding of nature. Inose also creates a debate on the role of the original masterpieces and how this has changes in the contemporary postmodern world. 

TAKATOKU NISHI (B. 1989) 

Born in Gifu, Japan. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Department of Design, Spatial Design Laboratory. He is excels in the construction of spaces that deal with optical phenomena. He greatest creations were inspired by “Komorebi” – a Japanese word for a natural phenomenon describing the sunshine filtering through leaves and, in some ways, a similar occurrence called in English the “angel’s ladder” – rays of sunlight coming through the clouds. He also creates spaces with an architectural atmosphere. In other words, his aim is to create architectural spaces that evoke a new spectacle, different from that of nature. His work intrigues the viewers by unveiling new impressions of the space and light around. 

TORU ISHII (B. 1981) 

Dyeing and Weaving Artist. Born in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. He finished his master’s degree at Tokyo University of arts. While he is reconsidering the Japanese traditional dyeing method called “Yuzen-some”, he is creating his work under the theme of renovations of traditional crafts and refurbishment of contemporary art at the same time. He held his solo exhibitions at Sokyo Gallery(Kyoto/2018), Japan House Gallery(London/2014), Ise Cultural Foundation From Space Gallery(New York/2012), Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Project N(Tokyo/2021), Mizuma Action(Tokyo/2010), and he participated in “TOUCH” Atelier Blancs Manteaux(Paris/2018), “Light Sgraffito” Victoria and Albert Museum(London/2017), “IMAYŌ: Connecting Past and Present” Honolulu Museum of Art(Honolulu/2016), “KIZASHI” Pola Museum Anex(Tokyo/2014), “EDO POP: THE GRAPHIC IMPACT OF JAPANESE PRINTS” Japan Society Gallery(New York/2013). His works are also collected by Tokyo University of Arts, Moriaki Museum(Miami), and Victoria and Albert Museum(London).

YUKAKO TANAKA 

Japanese artist, working and living in London. Her research and artworks aim to translate the beauty of scientific evidence (such as cosmic rays, gravitational-wave and human brain) into a fine art context. And her practice conducts cross-disciplinary research in philosophy, physics, and biology and collaborating with researchers in astrophysics and neurology. Recently, she held a solo exhibition at Daiwa AngloJapanese Foundation (London). In 2020, she participated in the #SciCommHack that took place at CERN LHC, Geneva as a member of the Ethereal Antimatter Challenge. She is shortlisted Aesthetica Art Prize 2022. Recent group exhibitions include: London Grads Now. 21, Saatchi Gallery, London (2021); Sound and Vision, Royal Academy of Music, London (2020); Late Light 2019, King’s College, London (2019); and SICF20, Spiral Hall, Tokyo (2019). She participated in the Coventry Biennial 2019 as a member of the collective Partisan Social Club.