Los Angeles, CA - Sow & Tailor is thrilled to announce the upcoming solo exhibition Any Kind featuring new works by Shingo Yamazaki. The exhibition will debut on November 18th, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the main gallery at 157 W 27th Street. Los Angeles, CA. 90007.
Shingo Yamazaki's thought-provoking work explores the intricate facets of cultural hybridity, identity, and the concept of "home." Drawing from a rich tapestry of cultural nuances, iconography, and personal experiences, Yamazaki's art reflects his upbringing in Honolulu, Hawai'i, and his more recent relocation to Los Angeles. By seamlessly blending personal history with the familiar rhythms of everyday life, Yamazaki redefines the notion of "home" as a vessel of collective identity, inviting viewers to engage in conversations about the essence of existence.
Yamazaki's journey takes a unique perspective, marked by a profound absence of generational knowledge, intertwined with the complexities of Hawai'i's diverse culture. His discovery of his Korean heritage at a later stage in life unraveled generational conflict within his family, shaped by their history as Koreans living in Japan. Beyond a surface exploration of cultural influences, this revelation testifies to the personal narratives that have molded Yamazaki into the person he is today. His work serves as an acceptance of this lack of information and a realization that it is valid to inhabit the in-between, where multiple versions of oneself coexist.
Deeply intrigued by the untold stories hidden across generations, Yamazaki's work sheds light on the trauma and anxieties stemming from narratives that previous generations felt compelled to conceal. Instead of merely exploring an unspoken and vague history, his art embarks on a journey to fill in the gaps and mend the voids, by connecting with the community and delving into the rich, diverse culture of Hawai’i.
Yamazaki's art employs thin, veil-like, transparent layers of paint as both a physical layer of history and a symbolic means to merge figures and objects. Meticulously arranged compositions guide viewers to unravel hidden meanings beneath the surface of the ordinary, reflecting their intricate connection to the complex mosaic of identity. Visual tensions between household objects and their occupants mirror the subconscious struggle with selective memory, emotional distress, and the erasure of memory and history. These tensions, conveyed through varying opacities and interjections, weave a captivating visual narrative that simultaneously grants and withholds access to the observer.
Within this interplay, Yamazaki constructs spaces that transcend conventional settings, each scene embodying an entirely new reality—a history reconstructed through his personal lens and internalized memories. These spaces offer as much as they withhold from the viewer, leaving them suspended in the realm between memory and forgetfulness—a reflection of the ever-shifting landscape of personal and collective recollection. Shingo Yamazaki's evocative creations invite viewers to explore the boundaries of their own memories, challenging the fragments that shape their understanding of self and place.
Shingo Yamazaki (b. 1985) studied at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelors of Arts focused in Painting. Yamazaki has been a recipient of the “Newcomer Award” at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce “Commitment to Excellence” Juried Exhibition, and won the First Place Award for the Association of Hawai’i Artists “Aloha Show.” He has been featured recently in publications such as BOOOOOOOM 'Tomorrow's Talent' volume II, Friend of the Artist Volume 13, and the Santa Clara Review. Shingo currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
