At B1F PARCO POP UP GALLERY, a new exhibition "VESICA PISCIS" by contemporary artist Rei Nakanishi will be held until November 30 (Tuesday).
Nakanishi, who traveled to the United States in 2016 and worked as an assistant to artist Shiru Yamaguchi, based in Brooklyn, New York. He talked about how the work he drew for this exhibition was born, seriously facing the context of art history and always taking on challenges.

―Speaking of Mr. Nakanishi's work, the color was very impressive, but this time it is based on white and black.
How did you come up with this?

This is the first time that we have released a black and white work. Until now, I had relied on colors, so this time the motifs and techniques were an extension of the past, and I challenged to draw the essential goodness that emerged by narrowing the colors to white and black in a stoic manner . The intrinsic goodness is that the texture and the theme you are drawing in two colors, white and black, will be more highlighted, and I think that the details will be noticeable. That's why it can be said that the foolishness doesn't work, so it was a very meaningful challenge because I was able to draw while sharpening it.

  

―What do you handle skulls and flowers as motifs?

It is a theme that I want to continue drawing because there is a tradition that old painters have handled, and it is valuable as a motif. In my work, printing and painting are combined as a method, and this is completed by combining the opposite techniques of digital and analog. In addition, the motif of skull and flower, reminiscent of life and death, is drawn only in white and black. At first glance, I think two things that seem to be the opposite are the same thing and can be regarded as one thing when I pull it.

―It's like a one. Even though it's white and black, it's not just two colors, but there's a gray zone between them.

That's right. White and black also have a gradation, which can be said to be one of the same colors. I wanted to prove that I could complete a single work by dealing with different things at the same time. In particular, the use of printing techniques may make it difficult to recognize the value of painting, but I think that challenging it will improve myself as a writer. The theme of dealing with such modern technology itself was that I chose to continue to challenge as my own challenge as a writer. I would like to update my picture while matching each other's goodness.

―In the future, there is a possibility that you will try different techniques.

If we can update the quality and value of the picture, we would like to accept and use what we need. I don't want to determine the ceiling only based on the value that has been proven so far, so I've been drawing such a work. I would like to continue making new things while having a formal style to deliver to those who liked paintings so far.

The work that will be unveiled for the first time can be said to be the current point of achievement that Mr. Nakanishi has been thinking, pursuing, and challenging to this day. Experience the highest price at this time, while expanding his expectations for his future as he continues to upgrade.
Please take a closer look at the sense of scale and power that can only be transmitted directly, and the technical charm and delicateness that dwells in the details.

■Rei Nakanishi Exhibition "VESICA PISCIS”

Period: From November Tuesday, November 30, 2021

※Closed at 18:00 on the last day

Venue: B1F／PARCO POP UP GALLERY

Fees: Free of charge

Click here for details.

https://art.parco.jp/shinsaibashi/detail/?id=802