[Exhibition] Demos Chiang solo exhibition "CHERISH BLOSSOM"
Art | GINZA ATRIUM
2024年03月23日(土) - 04月10日(水)
Taiwanese artist Demos Chiang's solo exhibition "CHERISH BLOSSOM" will be held at the store's central event space, GINZA ATRIUM, from Saturday, March 23, 2024 to Wednesday, April 10, 2024. In addition to the premiere of his latest series of works inspired by cherry blossoms, there will also be a collaborative exhibition with "TRADMAN'S BONSAI," a group of bonsai artists who go beyond conventional ideas while preserving tradition.
Demos Chan is an artist who expresses his thoughts and interests in the world through painting anthropomorphic animals. His works, which are also an expression of the artist's own inner feelings, also convey to the viewer an equal heart towards all living things and a sincere attitude towards life. The contents of the English poems that correspond in parallel to each work are linked to his true feelings and philosophical introspection, while inheriting the tradition of Chinese literati calligraphy and painting.
In terms of painting, he employs western techniques such as mixed techniques using lacquer and water, splashing and scraping to create agile and fluid textures and layers, while in his sculpture he uses the concept of "vacuum" to explore the transience of time and its transitions in life.
In this exhibition entitled "CHERISH BLOSSOM", we will be unveiling our latest series inspired by cherry blossoms, which is fitting for this season. We will also be exhibiting collaborative works with the bonsai artist group "TRADMAN'S BONSAI" at the venue. Please come and enjoy them.
In terms of painting, he employs western techniques such as mixed techniques using lacquer and water, splashing and scraping to create agile and fluid textures and layers, while in his sculpture he uses the concept of "vacuum" to explore the transience of time and its transitions in life.
In this exhibition entitled "CHERISH BLOSSOM", we will be unveiling our latest series inspired by cherry blossoms, which is fitting for this season. We will also be exhibiting collaborative works with the bonsai artist group "TRADMAN'S BONSAI" at the venue. Please come and enjoy them.
[Artist Statement] [Artist Profile]
Demos Chiang's family background and western education at a young age allowed him to express a modern new literati art style that integrates Eastern and Western cultures in design and artistic creation. At the age of 30, he achieved outstanding achievements in commercial design and won multiple international awards. In recent years, his artistic talent and education have allowed him to express his creativity in various aspects, including graphic painting, installation sculpture, and multimedia art. His works use anthropomorphized animals to express his observations and interest in the world, while also expressing the author's inner feelings, allowing the viewer to read his keen and sentimental nature and his equal treatment of all things. And his sincerity, tenacity, and especially the English poems written in each work inherit the tradition of Chinese literati calligraphy and painting, and are full of true emotions and philosophical reflections. The painting techniques used are Western techniques such as oil-water separation, paint splashes, and coloring. The texture created by carving and layering the work with a knife creates a rich depth of field, bringing out the sense of speed of the brush strokes and the smoothness of the painting.
When it comes to creating sculptures, he uses the concept of vacuum to explore times and moments of transformation in life. The concept of "removing the most basic and leaving the most core" is a constant throughout his sculptural thinking.
In 2021, he was invited to Chengdu Biennale Super Integration, where he was the main artist and his installation work was highly praised. Starting in Tokyo in 2023, a series of eye-catching international exhibitions will travel around the world, including Shanghai, with each city showcasing unique artworks. In 2024, Demos will return to Tokyo with more creative energy and a new artistic vocabulary, showcasing his new way of thinking and perspective on art.
People make their lives difficult by complicating everything. They only see what they choose to see and never see things as they really are. That's why cherry blossoms exist: to remind us to stop and cherish the flowers.
I celebrate cherry blossoms in three dimensions: my interpretation of "cool" and my interpretation of "cute" as well as the common interpretation of traditional Japanese bonsai. The "cute" version of cherry blossoms is represented by colorful paintings that can be combined to form a cherry blossom forest, but can also be displayed alone, in pairs or in triplicates. Just like people celebrate the cherry blossoms under the cherry blossom trees. The "cool" version of cherry blossoms is a series of paintings in monotone colors to bring out the softness of the cherry blossoms. This strength makes the cherry blossoms look softer.
In my interpretation of bonsai, I thought of painting a pot that reflects the shape of the bonsai animal. I also created a new sculpture, "Hinoki-ryu", which echoes "Shoryu". "Hinoki-ryu" takes the form of a natural wonder of Taiwan, "Snow Mountain Dead Tree". It started as a seed, turned into a dragon, and was placed horizontally to match the vertical shape of "Shoryu". The material is brass, and it changes color over time, aging like the process of the life of a tree. The painting technique called "Dai-urushi" is a Japanese and Chinese one, and its origins are as old as bonsai. This emphasizes that bonsai and art - good bonsai and art - will be passed down beyond our generations, just like traditional techniques. We are only the guardians or creators of the present time. (Demos Chiang)
I celebrate cherry blossoms in three dimensions: my interpretation of "cool" and my interpretation of "cute" as well as the common interpretation of traditional Japanese bonsai. The "cute" version of cherry blossoms is represented by colorful paintings that can be combined to form a cherry blossom forest, but can also be displayed alone, in pairs or in triplicates. Just like people celebrate the cherry blossoms under the cherry blossom trees. The "cool" version of cherry blossoms is a series of paintings in monotone colors to bring out the softness of the cherry blossoms. This strength makes the cherry blossoms look softer.
In my interpretation of bonsai, I thought of painting a pot that reflects the shape of the bonsai animal. I also created a new sculpture, "Hinoki-ryu", which echoes "Shoryu". "Hinoki-ryu" takes the form of a natural wonder of Taiwan, "Snow Mountain Dead Tree". It started as a seed, turned into a dragon, and was placed horizontally to match the vertical shape of "Shoryu". The material is brass, and it changes color over time, aging like the process of the life of a tree. The painting technique called "Dai-urushi" is a Japanese and Chinese one, and its origins are as old as bonsai. This emphasizes that bonsai and art - good bonsai and art - will be passed down beyond our generations, just like traditional techniques. We are only the guardians or creators of the present time. (Demos Chiang)
Demos Chiang
Demos Chiang
Demos Chiang's family background and western education at a young age allowed him to express a modern new literati art style that integrates Eastern and Western cultures in design and artistic creation. At the age of 30, he achieved outstanding achievements in commercial design and won multiple international awards. In recent years, his artistic talent and education have allowed him to express his creativity in various aspects, including graphic painting, installation sculpture, and multimedia art. His works use anthropomorphized animals to express his observations and interest in the world, while also expressing the author's inner feelings, allowing the viewer to read his keen and sentimental nature and his equal treatment of all things. And his sincerity, tenacity, and especially the English poems written in each work inherit the tradition of Chinese literati calligraphy and painting, and are full of true emotions and philosophical reflections. The painting techniques used are Western techniques such as oil-water separation, paint splashes, and coloring. The texture created by carving and layering the work with a knife creates a rich depth of field, bringing out the sense of speed of the brush strokes and the smoothness of the painting.
When it comes to creating sculptures, he uses the concept of vacuum to explore times and moments of transformation in life. The concept of "removing the most basic and leaving the most core" is a constant throughout his sculptural thinking.
In 2021, he was invited to Chengdu Biennale Super Integration, where he was the main artist and his installation work was highly praised. Starting in Tokyo in 2023, a series of eye-catching international exhibitions will travel around the world, including Shanghai, with each city showcasing unique artworks. In 2024, Demos will return to Tokyo with more creative energy and a new artistic vocabulary, showcasing his new way of thinking and perspective on art.
[Exhibiting collaborative works with the bonsai artist group "TRADMAN'S BONSAI"]
TRADMAN'S BONSAI
With the mission of spreading the traditional Japanese culture of bonsai to the world, he formed TRADMAN'S BONSAI in 2015 (later establishing Matsubaya Co., Ltd. in 2016). He has collaborated with apparel select shops, high-end brands, car dealerships, and more, and is delivering an unprecedented world of bonsai that goes beyond conventional ideas while preserving tradition to a wide range of generations, including young people.
With the mission of spreading the traditional Japanese culture of bonsai to the world, he formed TRADMAN'S BONSAI in 2015 (later establishing Matsubaya Co., Ltd. in 2016). He has collaborated with apparel select shops, high-end brands, car dealerships, and more, and is delivering an unprecedented world of bonsai that goes beyond conventional ideas while preserving tradition to a wide range of generations, including young people.
[Sales Information]
Works exhibited at the venue will be available for sale in stores from 11:00 on Saturday, March 23rd.
*Depending on the pre-sales situation, sales may end before the start of the event.
Works exhibited at the venue will be available for sale in stores from 11:00 on Saturday, March 23rd.
*Depending on the pre-sales situation, sales may end before the start of the event.
- Dates Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 - Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 *End date may be subject to change.
- time 11:00-20:00 *Closed at 18:00 on the last day
- venue GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS GINZA ATRIUM (event space)
- Organizer GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS
- Cooperation TRADMAN'S BONSAI
- Planning and Production as STUDIO, MEGATRON
- Admission free
- inquiry 03-3575-7755 (during business hours) / info.ginza@ccc.co.jp
