MAKI Gallery is pleased to present Travel the topics, its first solo show with Japanese artist Ayumu Yamamoto, at Omotesando, Tokyo. While Yamamoto has exhibited internationally in group shows and art fairs, this marks the first time the gallery will devote an entire show to the emerging artist’s work.
Yamamoto’s vibrant paintings frequently feature interior spaces, flora and fauna, and stylized figures—often lovers—surrounded by lush landscapes. A multitude of conflicting emotions and narratives lie beneath the surface; opposing elements such as familiarity and discord, light and shadow, and order and chaos coexist in the picture plane. This sense of duality extends to her technique as well—Yamamoto develops a wide range of textures by applying thick and thin layers of acrylic and oil paint, combining both glossy and matte finishes. Furthermore, she incorporates scenes from various times and places within a single frame, disregarding conventional spatial logic and exuding a compelling aura that draws the viewer into the artist’s eclectic world.
Travel the topics features a broad array of work, from large-scale paintings that envelop the viewer to smaller pieces that focus on a single subject, as well as an installation composed of countless drawings that brings the free-flow energy of Yamamoto’s studio to the gallery space. We hope the holistic experience of this exhibition will allow you to immerse yourself in the artist’s uniquely intimate worldview.
Yamamoto’s vibrant paintings frequently feature interior spaces, flora and fauna, and stylized figures—often lovers—surrounded by lush landscapes. A multitude of conflicting emotions and narratives lie beneath the surface; opposing elements such as familiarity and discord, light and shadow, and order and chaos coexist in the picture plane. This sense of duality extends to her technique as well—Yamamoto develops a wide range of textures by applying thick and thin layers of acrylic and oil paint, combining both glossy and matte finishes. Furthermore, she incorporates scenes from various times and places within a single frame, disregarding conventional spatial logic and exuding a compelling aura that draws the viewer into the artist’s eclectic world.
Travel the topics features a broad array of work, from large-scale paintings that envelop the viewer to smaller pieces that focus on a single subject, as well as an installation composed of countless drawings that brings the free-flow energy of Yamamoto’s studio to the gallery space. We hope the holistic experience of this exhibition will allow you to immerse yourself in the artist’s uniquely intimate worldview.
−Artist