August – the height of summer. People wither in the scorching heat. No longer able to consciously control themselves, they release a primal scream. That scream becomes a celebration, luring us into an altered, ecstatic state. When you abandon affectation and embrace beauty, you glimpse a part of the universe, a scene that permeates your soul. In summer, we see nakedness. In summer, we see art.

 

This summer, the Gallery will host two exhibitions entitled ‘Scenes of Another Color’. Our aim with these exhibitions is to appreciate the true hue of extraordinary artists whose coloring differs from that of common people. The artists we focus on are indifferent to the art world and the value it places on public recognition. These artistes maintain a distance between themselves and art dealers. Along they way they were likely considered suspicious (usan kusai) by those who sought to establish a frame for what people in the arts were supposed to be and in doing so, to establish themselves as artists. The phrase ‘usan kusai', derived from Chinese during the Edo Period, is a combination of the word 'usan' and the suffix 'kusai' ('stinking'). It originally meant 'strange' or 'uncanny'; literally, 'like usan'. Usan is a fictional spice said to have been popular in medieval Persia but was banned because of the trance states it induced. In light of this, I think that ‘usan kusai' is a very appropriate way of describing the artists we are showcasing here. People who encounter their art will behold an ecstatic scene... indeed art itself is nothing if not trance-inducing.

 

 

Rei Torii is known as a scholar of the Hotsuma tsutae, a lyric poem that records ancient history and legend. In the study of historical texts, those whose date of production has been intentionally altered are referred to as apocryphal, and the Hotsuma tsutae is no exception. But ‘apocryphal’ does not necessarily mean ‘fake’. As a record of ancient legend it is a worthy object of study. Regardless of when it was produced, the Hotsuma tsutae is a refined work marked by the elegant composition of its more than 10,000 lines. It is easy to see how a man of great literary talent could have been inspired by the spirit of the language contained within.

 

However, Rei Torii is not a man of letters but a painter to the core. Dissatisfied with the material values of the cutting-edge work he pursued in art school, he turned instead to Japanese painting and has since evolved into a modern artist whose work resounds with cultural fusion. His encounter with the Hotsuma tsutae was an inevitable part of his artistic pursuits—pursuits that have embraced change and in doing so, liberated the eye.

 

In his pursuit of the Hotsuma tsutae, Torii touched on the foundation of Japanese culture and in doing so, was shocked to find an ancient culture that loved peace. It was not the Chinese-influenced culture of the Asuka or Nara periods, nor that of the Yayoi, but what was condensed in the Jomon Period. From within this coexistence with the spiraling intensity, the universe and nature, he began to look for the future.

 

The theme of Torii’s current exhibition is ‘Eternal Landscapes – Walking in Paradise’. The thick, indigenous lines give a real sense of comfort. Facing the paintings, one is intrigued by the smile that spreads so naturally. A graceful, adorable beauty, at times containing within it a culture of strength. Torii’s works are not an explanation of the Hotsuma tsutae. They are a continual search for depth, which can only be reached through a lifetime of continuous painting. And what lies ahead is the embodiment of ‘universal love.’

 

'Scenes of Another Color' in mid-summer. They are scenes we'd like as many art fans as possible to experience.

 

Manager, GALLERY-BS