Yamamoto Keiko Rochaix
PRESS RELEASE

As you see it
Ryohei Kan
Private view and opening reception: 21th March 2019, 6pm - 9pm
Yamamoto Keiko Rochaix is pleased to present the ﬁrst showing of works ofRyohei Kan in the UK. Works of video, mixed media installation, photography andother graphic works portray various facets of empty space, or more speciﬁcally,
empty gallery space, which quietly but steadily question architecture, reality andconceived reality. The video and the installation, central to the exhibition are
designed to be in tune with the structural elements of the gallery, thus providing
the best vintage point when viewing in the gallery space.
The video 'Endless Gallery', projected life-size at the gallery's basement mainroom, invites the audience into the screen to explore the imaginary space fromroom to room, along with another person, invisible but sensed by the sound ofaccompanying footsteps. Both visual and acoustic elements of the piece werecreated exclusively by digital means, from the stains of the ﬂoor to the holes on awall left from hanging previous works and the almost inaudible sound of failing/ﬂickering ﬂorescent lights.
The air of nonchalant creation in the photographic works is no less deceiving.
The seemingly uneventful snapshots, portraying architectural elementsʼ play withlight and shadow are the result of the painstaking composition, staged mostly
physically with the models Kan scrupulously produced, while some are digitallycreated.
The emerging artist has constantly produced works which explore the boundary
between physical reality and created reality, a reality formulated according tohuman concepts or ideals. Kanʼs work plays with this boundary, and by his
meticulous contrivances his works often result in a blurring of what we see, andwhat we think we see. The artist nonetheless claims that he is only presenting
what you see, and there is nothing more to be explored or examined, hence theenigmatic title for the show, 'As you see it'. Such assertion may seem
contradictory, but it reﬂects his belief that his work is independent of the viewers'
perception of it. They seek to liberate the viewer and enable them to experience
whatever it is they experience, whether it be actual or imaginary.
Kan's creations possess a striking visual poetry, comparable to multi-sensorial
haikus, a form of literature initiated in the land of his compatriots. His
photographic works crystallise the static beauty portraying sections of life,
sections of thoughts, or sections of daydreams. The video possesses almost
1 /2

hypnotic quality with its tireless, repetitive nature leading to the promise ofeternity, comparable to the eﬀect one receives when listening to a Bach fugue.
Immaculate aesthetics reminiscent of the minimalism of 70's with streamlined
visuals of restrained monochromatic palette, from black through almost inﬁnite
shades of grey to white, contributes to the meditative property of the work.
Ryohei KanBorn 1983 in Ehime, Japan, in 1983. Will live and work in Tokyo from spring 2019.
Diploma Meisterschüler from the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Germany under Prof.
Florian Pumhösl. PhD and MFA, both in oil painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts.
Solo exhibitions include 'In the Walls' Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo, 2017, 'Room A.EG̲05',
Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Munich, 2014, 'White Cube', Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo,Tokyo, 2013, and 'Black Box', Yokoi Fine Art, Tokyo 2010. Selected group exhibitions
include 'Shell Artists Slection', National Art Center, Tokyo, 2018, 'The Pandora's Box:
Finding the Wondrous in the Geidai Collection, The University Art Museum, The Tokyo
University of the Arts, Tokyo, 2017, 'First Attacks!', Space Wunderkammer, Tokyo, 2014,'Tokyo Wonder Wall 2012' The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2012. Selectedawards include; runner up, Shiseido Art Egg, 2017, Grand-prix, The 1st Makurazaki
International Art Award, 2016, Judge's Award, Shell Art Award 2012, 2012. Public
collections include The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts andMakurazaki Nameikan Cultural Resource Center, Makurazaki, Japan.

The artist and the gallery would like to extend their gratitude for the generous support andassistance of the following institutions, companies and individuals:
Japan Arts Foundation
Nomura Foundation
ShiseidoColor Science Labo (Tokyo), Wataru Shoji, Shosuke Watanabe
We will organise a talk event with the artist toward the end of the exhibition period. Detailto be announced at a later date.
For further information, images or to arrange interviews please contact:+44 (0)755 136 0056
press@yamamotokeiko.com
Address: 19 Goulston St, London, E1 7TPDates: 22h March - 17 May 2019
Private View: Thursday 21th March 2019
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11am ‒ 6pm
Travel: Aldgate East, Aldgate, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel
Twitter: twitter.com/yamamotokeikor
Facebook: facebook.com/yamamotokeikorochaix
Instagram: instagram.com/yamamotokeikorochaix
Website: www.yamamotokeiko.com
2/2