atsushi takahashi paintings

atsushi takahashi: ‘heart’s place’ (2010) oil on canvas with coating, 180 x 120 cm all images courtesy of entomorodia curatorial network and frantic gallery

the unusual paintings by japanese artist atsushi takahashi are created not with a brush but instead by the squeezing of oil and acrylic paint tubes directly onto the canvas. while from afar the images look like ordinary paintings or drawings, at close range viewers can observe a tangle of thick dried paint with an untouched blank canvas at times exposed underneath, achieving a balance of chaos and visual calmness.

takahashi’s recent paintings ‘feel you as me’ and ‘heart’s place’ are on display from july 27th through 31st, 2011 as part of the show ‘frantic underlines‘, a collection of the artists who have or will be exhibiting this year at japan’s frantic gallery.

gallery curators reflect: ‘takahashi leaves no touch, no traces of artist’s hands, but manages to stress the materiality of the painting at the same time: oil paint is both a means of representation and an object.‘

detail view of ‘heart’s place’ by atsushi takahashi (2010)

detail view of ‘heart’s place’ by atsushi takahashi (2010)

detail view of ‘heart’s place’ by atsushi takahashi (2010)

atsushi takahashi: ‘feel you as me’ (2011) oil on canvas, 180 x 120 cm

detail view of ‘feel you as me’ by atsushi takahashi (2011)

detail view of ‘feel you as me’ by atsushi takahashi (2011)