Art for All: Solo Exhibition of the Japanese Artist Yukio Kondo at the Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Russian Academy of Arts

Art for All: Solo Exhibition of the Japanese Artist Yukio Kondo at the Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Russian Academy of Arts

Opening: January 20, 2017 at 18.00
Dates: 20.01.2017-19.02.2017
Venue: Museum and Exhibition Complex of the
            Russian Academy of Arts, Tsereteli Art Gallery
            19  Prechistenka street, Moscow

The Russian Academy of Arts presents a solo exhibition of the Japanese artist Yukio Kondo “ART FOR ALL” featuring 60 works in the traditional Japanese technique of Nihonga, drawings and lithographs. Yukio Kondo was born in 1953 in Niigata City (Japan). He graduated fr om Tama Art University in 1977 wh ere he majored in the technique of Nihonga. In 1979 the artist completed a graduate school curriculum at Tama Art University, in 1980 upgraded his skills at the New York University.

Yukio Kondo is a participant of numerous solo and group art shows, since 2012 has been actively involved in teaching activity. The international project ART FOR ALL started in Russia in Mytischi, was exhibited in St. Petersburg, now - in Moscow then will move to Novosibirsk and Vladivostok. The traveling exhibition project has been conceived by the artist to give everyone worldwide an opportunity  to interact with art and understand it better.

For a long time, Yukio Kondo has been working for gratis in a committee for children in need and his exhibitions are often visited by children from orphan asylums and physically challenged people. The master is confident, that art has the power to overcome alienation and make positive changes, is able to instill hope in a difficult situation. The artist tries to make his art open to all people and during the exhibition is going to give master classes for children with eyesight problems.

“Sometimes under the influence of artworks a person obtains a passion for life. Like in the environment of clean water and air everyone should feel the presence of art. I am implementing the project ART FOR ALL to give people a chance, similar to the medical aid to those who cannot receive it, to get in touch with art” – says Kondo-san.  

The works by Yukio Kondo can be touched literally as some works on display are tactile. Yukio Kondo works in the traditional technique of Nihonga preserved since the 8th century. For each of his works the master uses special paper and pigments based on natural materials. At present Yukio Kondo is actively working at the theme “Respect for Nature”, therefore his creative work is dominated by images of nature and wild animals. According to the artist, he spends a lot of time in the open air to merge with nature and convey this experience in his art. The elaboration of such details as the hair of animals and bark of trees requires refinement and calligraphy, elegance and delicacy. This is the special aesthetics characteristic of the culture of the Orient. However, the artist is not only fond of depicting the idyllic image of nature.

One more important topic for Yukio Kondo is “Preservation of the Human Dignity”. He made creative expeditions to the Middle and Near East, South-East Asia and India and watched the aftermaths of wars, devastations, conflicts, famine. Many of his works deal with the problems of preservation of human dignity in inhuman conditions. The centerpiece of the present exhibition is his monumental graphic work “Tsunami” (or “Search for the Truth”) dedicated to the tragedy during the natural calamity which the artist witnessed in his childhood and still keeps in his memory. He started working at it in 1981 and constantly returns to the work which length now is more than 13 meters. The artist says about the picture: “It has no end. I will be painting it till I exist. It contains various aesthetic concepts peculiar to the Japanese painting of Nihonga. You can touch, hear and smell it. “The Search for the Truth” makes work our five senses. In this artwork there are many things that are visible not only to the eye, but also can be felt by other senses. I plan to continue it meaning that there are still faith and hope for the better future”.      





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