Japanese artist Natsuko Kiura is set to unveil her first solo exhibition, "VISTAS," at The Breeder gallery in Athens. Running from September 12 to November 2, 2024, this exhibition marks a significant milestone in Kiura's artistic journey.
Natsuko Kiura, Sea, 2024, Oil on canvas, 50 x 60.6 cm., 19.685 x 23.858 in.
© the artist. Courtesy The Breeder, Athens Photographer: Athanasios Gatos
Kiura's work is a delicate exploration of fleeting landscapes and the emotions they evoke. Her creative process begins with photographs she takes herself, often capturing intimate moments spent with her children. These snapshots of everyday scenes - a day at the beach or rolling hills beside a road - serve as the foundation for her paintings. What sets Kiura's work apart is her approach to these initial images. She meticulously strips away superfluous details, distilling the composition to its emotional essence. This process results in paintings that are deceptively simple yet profoundly evocative. Her titles, often single words, reflect this apparent simplicity while hinting at deeper complexities.
The universality of Kiura's work is striking. Human figures in her paintings are either absent or blend seamlessly into their surroundings, rendered with precise yet restrained brushstrokes. This approach creates a fascinating tension between the personal moments Kiura chooses to share and the apparent neutrality of the depicted scenes. Kiura's style is reminiscent of the Japanese Yōga art movement, suggesting an oeuvre that stands at the intersection of cultures and, more significantly, between past and present. Her soft color palette and delicate brushwork evoke an ethereal, almost illusionary landscape. The blurriness of her scenes reflects the distance between the viewer and the memory being presented, creating a dreamlike quality that invites personal interpretation.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Kiura's work is how it resonates with viewers on a personal level, despite - or perhaps because of - its seemingly anonymous nature. Each painting evokes a sense of nostalgia, allowing viewers to project their own memories and emotions onto the scene. In this way, Kiura's art becomes a mirror, reflecting the viewer's inner landscape as much as the external one depicted.The vastness of Kiura's landscapes, which might initially suggest loneliness or remoteness, transforms into a comforting scene as viewers imbue it with their own feelings and memories. This interplay between the personal and the universal raises a profound question: Is it in the universality of separation that we can find community?
Natsuko Kiura, Tree, 2019, Oil on canvas, 72.7 x 91 cm., 28.622 x 35.827 in.
© the artist. Courtesy The Breeder, Athens Photographer: Athanasios Gatos
Natsuko Kiura, Park, 2024, Oil on canvas, 44.5 x 53 cm., 17.52 x 20.866 in.
© the artist. Courtesy The Breeder, Athens Photographer: Athanasios Gatos
The "VISTAS" exhibition at The Breeder offers a unique opportunity for an international audience to experience Kiura's subtle and universal landscapes. Her ability to evoke emotional resonance through seemingly simple scenes speaks to a shared human experience that transcends cultural boundaries.
As viewers walk through the gallery, they are invited to lose themselves in Kiura's vistas, to find echoes of their own memories in these carefully crafted scenes. In doing so, they may discover a profound connection not only to the artist's vision but to a collective emotional landscape that unites us all.
Natsuko Kiura
Born in 1985, Natsuko Kiura lives and works in Kagoshima, Japan. She received her MFA from Onomichi City University in Art & Design. While primarily working with oil paintings, Kiura's artistic exploration centers on the relationship an audience can have with a memory that is not their own, yet feels eerily familiar. Kiura's work has gained significant recognition in Japan. She has participated in notable group exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the National Art Centre in Tokyo (2023), The Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (2023), and the Ueno Royal Museum (2022). Her solo exhibitions include shows at the Takashi Someiya Gallery (2022) and the Kagoshima City Museum of Art (2021).
Natsuko Kiura "VISTAS"
Dates: September 12 - November 2, 2024
Venue: The Breeder, 45 Iasonos st, 10436, Athens, Greece Gallery Information:
Website: www.thebreedersystem.com
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