Shinichi Doi + Tomoyo Hiraiwa Exhibition

Photos:
(Left) “September 11th 2” by Shinichi Doi  Acrylic on canvas 22” x 27”
(Right) “Japonica Camellia – Celebrate Spring”  Tomoyo Hiraiwa Aluminum anodizing 12in x 13in x 2.7in

The Nippon Gallery at The Nippon Club is pleased to announce to host a two-person exhibition by Mr. Shinichi Doi, a Western-style painter in New York, and Tomoyo Hiraiwa, a metal sculptor in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

After graduating from Kanazawa College of Arts in 1955, Mr. Doi started his artistic career in Tokyo. Still, in 1960, he moved to the United States because he was fascinated by contemporary painting. From February 1966, he held a 10-month solo exhibition that toured the United States. In 1968, he started to work as a conservator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he was engaged in antiquities conservation and restoration, and at the same time, he continued to work as an artist in Japan and abroad Japan. In 2004, he received the Foreign Minister’s Award commemorating the 150th anniversary of Japan-U.S. friendship, and in 2011, he received the Order of the Rising Sun for his contribution to cultural activities.

In this exhibition, Mr. Doi will exhibit works created under the theme of “From September 11th to the COVID-19 disaster”. “Now that more than 20 years have passed since Catastrophe hit the United States, and the COVID-19 pandemic that once shook the world is receding, I dared to focus on the purpose of presenting my work in ‘How pathetic the world is! However, no matter how tough it is, we will have to live looking towards the future.’ Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and record-breaking natural disasters on earth, people have spared no effort with bonds of love, seeking peace day and night and continuing to burn the light of hope. In particular, the events of the September 11th disaster, which will remain in my memory for many years, developed into an extremely deeply sentimental engagement that cannot be compared to a personal one. The works displayed in this exhibition are small pieces reflecting the memories of the calendar flipped through,” says Mr. Doi.

On the other hand, Ms. Tomoyo Hiraiwa is a graduate of The Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. She has over 40 years of experience in the art world and has received numerous awards for her work in Japan and internationally. Most notably, she won the highly prestigious Friedrich Wilhelm Muller International Jewelry competition, and her pieces landed a permanent position at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her jewelry and sculpture works are exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the New York Museum of Arts and Design, SOFA, New York, and Chicago, International Lace Biennale in Belgium.

In this exhibition, she will exhibit a group of works that embody scenes that come to mind from the Yamato language (the ancient Japanese language) by keeping them in memory. The sound of the Yamato language is intelligent, dignified, noble, and elegant. Ms. Hiraiwa found beauty in her native language and embedded that simplicity in the dynamic possibilities of the material. What is engraved in her heart is the sound and scent of the wind that naturally tells the story of ruins and ancient buildings and travels through the slumbering town. The Yamato language was born from the Japanese classics’ unique culture and aesthetic sense. Ms. Hiraiwa’s works are natural, seasonal, and beautifully and gracefully express sounds that express complex emotions. At the same time, it is also the discovery of Ms. Hiraiwa’s self-identity. Please appreciate the works of Ms. Tomoyo Hiraiwa, who has continued to create new art rooted in the tradition of Japan.

“There’s a word for ‘goen (connection).’ Although it is not heard when talking about contemporary art, this two-person exhibition was held thanks to the connection by Senior Priet Eiin Yasuda of Nara Yakushiji Hachiman-in, who loves the works of Tomoyo Hiraiwa and myself, Shinichi Doi. Normally, at the venue of a two-person exhibition, the viewer is impressed by the harmony of the same kind of work and is soothed by the beauty of the harmony. Still, in this two-person exhibition, we hope everyone will appreciate the beauty created by the harmony of two different categories,” says Mr. Doi.

We hope you will come and enjoy the beautiful harmony created by artists of different genres.

Photos:
(Left) “Red Country and Yellow Country” by Shinichi Doi  Acrylic on canvas 22” x 27”
(Right) “White Cloud” by Tomoyo Hiraiwa  Copper・Stainless wire・Goldleafe・Japanese traditional paper 12in x 12in x 8in (only a main part)