For Immediate Release:
Ichiro Irie, Okamoto Mitsuhiro and Ryohta Shimamoto
Archaic Vanguard: June 17 - July 15, 2017

eitoeiko is pleased to announce the group exhibition ‘Archaic Vanguard’ featuring work by Ichiro Irie, Okamoto Mitsuhiro
and Ryohta Shimamoto. The exhibition runs from June 17 to July 15. Okamoto Mitsuhiro was born in 1968, Kyoto, andIchiro Irie was born in 1969, Tokyo and raised in Los Angeles.
During their youth, there were secondhand bookstores, record stores, movie theaters and knick-knack shops whichhandled odd items in their respective hometowns. Both artists were quite influenced by these shops that served as afountain of stimulus and inspiration. Ryohta Shimamoto, though born in 1986, was influenced by the subcultures ofearlier generations from his older brothers, and these sources continue to affect him.
Decades later, Irie and Okamoto both became art teachers. Seventeen years past the turn of the millennium, theirstudents have become internet natives, downloading favorite songs in their iPods and playing games online. The culturefor which artists born in previous generations consider important is different from the up-to-date, the latest, brand-new
and cutting-edge culture of this younger generation. They look towards opposite directions from each other.
There is nothing fresh about Duchamp’s fountain, but it still functions as an extraordinary ode to contemporary art.
Fascinating and immoral fragrances contained in the wit of a crime novel, and such deviations from the smokescreen of
mainstream society have been immortalized into the history of mankind through works of the 20th century.
In this exhibition, Irie, Okamoto and Shimamoto will show their artworks which contain a spoonful of nostalgia, andreveal mysteries that are not forever discolored, and a fate which every generation of artists consider their personalarchaic vanguard.

Ichiro Irie (B.1969) Lives and works in Los Angeles. Director of JAUS. Recently, Irie has shown in Germany, Finland,Colombia and Mexico. As a curator, Irie organized Boiling Process 5: Mythodologies at San Diego Art Institute. Musicianand art school teacher are Irie’s other identities. As an artist, Irie will participate in the next series of Pacific Standard Timeexhibitions.

Left: ”Edward Weston: Nude on Sand” at Helios 2017 Poster putty on panel with frame 20 x 16 inches
Cener: “Larry Clark: Tulsa” at Robert Freidus Gallery 2017 Poster putty on panel with frame 20 x 16 inches
Right: Junk Yard 2.1 2017 Ink on paper 12 x 9 inches

Okamoto Mitsuhiro (B.1968) Lives and works in Kyoto. Director of KUNST ARZT. Currently Okamoto shows his artwork
at ARTZUID in Amsterdam and Love Love Show 2 at Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori. In Aomori he is currently exhibitinghis latest and largest object, DADAmore, measuring 6.9m in height with the same diameter. The huge monster
represents the spirit of radio-active soil in Fukushima. Okamoto is also a master ceramicist.

Left: DADA morechand 2017 H.6.9 x 6.9 x 6.9 m installation view at Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori
Right: Morenagashi 2017

Ryohta Shimamoto (B.1986) Lives and works in Tokyo. Four times Shimamoto has been selected for the Taro Okamoto
Award. Shimamoto is known for his performance of his Adhesive Plaster Man and has shown his artworks in Mexico City
where two major newspapers introduced his work with photo. Artforum has written two articles about him. Expansion ofbody and eternal life is at the heart of his artwork. Shimamoto makes video, calligraphy, drawing and ceramics withvarious materials such as hair, urine and his own body.

Love Mini 4WD Emperor 2016 collaborated with Yuji Maehata

Ichiro Irie, Okamoto Mitsuhiro and Ryohta Shimamoto: Archaic Vanguard
June 17 - July 15, 2017
Opening Party: June 17, 6PM-9PM
Opens Tue-Sat 12PM-7PM except July 6 and 7 for participating in ART OSAKAeitoeiko32-2 Yaraicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0805+81 3 6873 3830http://eitoeiko.com
Contact: ei@eitoeiko.com