Maekawa II
By: editor: Boris Vervoordt ; text: Koichi Kawasaki, Tsuyoshi Maekawa, Toru Takahashi, Masaru Aguro, Kazuo Akane, Boris Vervoordt ; translations from Japanese to English: Christopher Stephens
Contributors: Axel Vervoordt (Gallery)
Publisher: Axel Vervoordt Gallery; AsaMER, an imprint of MER, Paper Kunsthalle
Published: 2016
Place of publication: Antwerp; Ghent
Language: eng
Number of pages: 150
ISBN-13: 9789492321442
Copyright date: 2016
Subjects: Exhibitions; Mixed media painting; Burlap craft; History
Description: 'Maekawa II' presents the work of Japanese artist Tsuyoshi Maekawa (1936) during the 1970s. In contrast to 'Maekawa I', which highlights his art of the previous decade made within the directives of the Gutai Art Association, 'Maekawa II' sheds light on the artist's unremitting efforts to overcome the sudden death of Gutai's leader Jiro Yoshihara in 1972. In this volume, the ceaseless innovations and impulses Maekawa instigated in his post-Gutai practice are brought to the fore. They show the profound exercises and manipulations of sewed and dyed burlap that he shaped into oftentimes highly tactile squares, lines, triangles, and a multitude of colourful yet sober wavy patterns; at times stretched over boxes or loosely draped over walls. The result is a singular exploration of fabric, texture, colour and the possibilities of the canvas at its roughest core.
Notes: Catalog of the exhibition "Tsuyoshi Maekawa in the 1970s" held at Axel Vervoordt Gallery, 27 October through 3 December 2016.