Japanese Artist Series: Yamamoto Ryuki 山本竜基
Yamamoto studied Fine Arts in Tokyo Zokei University. He is used to draw self-portrait with the medium of fine paintings which are similar to photographs. His works are commented as "super-privateist painting".[1] His famous ones are produced after graduation namely “Personal War” and some pencil sketchings. He lived in China for a few years to produce earth and hell paintings which are the combination of Japanese myths and the anxious situations from the modern society[2]. He transformed the doubts and discoveries in society and life into painting.
His paintings consisted groups of people with either a giant sky or a dark plain background, and showed a variety of expressions. The men actions brought weightlessness in a space and fell at high speed. The image of the distorted contour reminiscent of the scene further shifts the feeling of time flowing.Another volume of works which is going to be analyzed is regarded as his self-portraits that intensify with the strangeness. The skinny boned people were drawn precisely to such an extent that was undoubtedly exposed to humorous cruelty, leading to the complex chaos of the masterpieces. Anxiety, pain, arrogance, embarrassment, indifference, etc. were seen, so when the audience finds a similar feeling in themselves.[3] They are spiritual feeling that appear in the modern age. His paintings and the characters are welcomed to take different perspectives to understand. They have no facial expression nor show any feelings. When he created these characters, he connected to the Japanese culture, its way of thinking and sense of beauty. He said that he was fully aware of these. As he said, “I’m Japanese for good and bad while painting is some kind of therapy, to dig the purpose of painting to the bottom of a matter, I can say I draw to heal myself.”[4] These portraits are kinds of escapism, expression and emotion which avoid feelings of happiness or sadness from the characters. Yamamoto is used to explore self-identity and the relationship between people, and most importantly, reveals the sickness of the contemporary society.
Reference:
[1] 山本竜基：《私心景》，ミヅマアートギャラリー，2008年。
[2] Mag-ryuki. "画家 山本竜基 北京日記." Mag-ryuki Exblog, 21 April. 2011, http://ryukimag.exblog.jp/. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.
[3] Makuuchi. "Review：山本竜基展《1/29》." Ex-chamber museum mirror, 18 Feb. 2011, http://exchambermirror1.seesaa.net/article/186490051.html. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.
[4] Mag-ryuki. "画家 山本竜基 北京日記." Mag-ryuki Exblog, 31 Mar. 2011, http://ryukimag.exblog.jp/. Accessed 17 Apr 2017.
