point of view co., ltd [Japanese/English]
exhibition"Heroic by HIRO KURATA"
July 4th - July 26th,2008
open: 12:00-20:00
place: at gallery POINT
Inquiry about this exhibition
PRESS RELEASE : PDF file download (10MB)
"Tell me your story" 610×410mm Acrylic, Oil and ink on wood 2008.©hiro kurata
"Find my morning" 760×510mm,Acrylic,oil and ink on wood boad 2008.©hiro kurata
<introduction>
Gallery POINT is pleased to announce "Heroic", a solo exhibition featuring new works by Hiro Kurata, opening July 4th, through July 26th. Hiro Kurata is an artist / painter who lives and works in Brooklyn NY. One of the humorus feature that makes his painting unique is how he paints the figures with some sort of structure that contains power and movement. The figures that looks to be innocent and also strong at the same time are illustrated as a baseball player, and heroes from the Greek myths. He has spent his child hood going back and forth, U.S and Japan. The cultural differences between those cities has been a natural source of his theme in his paintings. He skillfully digests the gap of the two countries, and expresses it by painting with some spice of cynical taste. Using pastel bright colors, the unbalanced proportion figures that he creates, shows confidence and sickness at the same time. Innocent but frightened by an enemy at the same time, reflects the extreme tough looking muscular body that seems to contain an extra weak soul. The heroes that he creates gives the viewer of a complex impression of happiness and nihilistic feeling at the same time. Please visit by the gallery to see more than 15 of his new paintings and installations.
<artist's comment>
Spending my time between the U.S and Japan, I have to say that the education system and moral issues has been always been a big doubt in me. I mean hearing and seeing all these crazy sad news; how would you be totally bright and confident towards where we are heading toward?
My "Heroes", like Hiroto Kohmoto(vocal of the ex Blue Hearts), a baseball sluggers, Jyari Ojisan(a children's book by Shinro Ootake), friend's art work and songs; have always helped me out through my life; where to go and what to believe in. Even, dogs and animals, trees and wild nature; has always supported me to open up my heart and taught me how to live. I create art work to express my appreciation and enthusiasm towards these heroes. I try to tell a story to give the viewer a positive click to their inspiration, which would eventually lead us to create a better bright world. Being honest, natural, passionate, free, and original are the key mind when I create my work.
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| "City of the Playmates" 405*505mm acrylic and ink on canvas board 2003 ©hiro kurata |
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| "Greek Myth” 445*400mmmm acrylic and ink on wood 2004 ©hiro kurata |
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| "Death of a Slugger” 600*400mm Acrylic on wood 2007 ©hiro kurata |
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<profile>
Hiro Kurata
He was born in Osaka Japan, and grew up in Tokyo and Chicago.
He is currently living and working in Brooklyn, NY.
His art work is inspired by various things including the Greek myths,
baseball cards, and JAPANIMATION-MANGA culture.
He is an artist who gather these contemporary themes.
And expressing his own fantastic world.
2004 Parsons School of Design, New York, NY BFA, Illustration
>SOLO EXHIBITION
2006.6 "Berlin 46" Galerie Mille D'air, Berlin Germany
2005 "Illustrations & Paintings /Works of 2003-2005" Hanae Mori Open Gallery, Tokyo
2003 "LEI UJIKA INC. Hiro Kurata Exhibition" LEI UJIKA INC. New York, NY
>GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2006 "10x10" at BBS, Tokyo
2005
"GAS as Interface" Presents / Traveling GAS Shop " at Shibuya, Tokyo
"Dolce Vita2" at Espace Beaurepaire, Paris, France
"Studio Pineal" at IID gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2004
"EHON by COREFITA" at Ratia, Tokyo, Japan
"Signs of Life" Gershwin Hotel, New York, NY
"Live Painting" at Bozu, Brooklyn, NY
2003
"037 Gallery Rally" U-haul Truck Exhibition, New York, NY
"Inter School Art Show" Cooper Union, New York, NY
"Annual Scholarship Exhibition" The Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
"Assembly" Front Room, Brooklyn, NY
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