Yumiko Kayukawa
"49 Days"
September 3 - 26, 2010
Artist Reception: Friday, Sept. 3rd; 8-11 PM
Print Release & Signing: Friday, Sept. 3rd; 7-8 PM
4633 Hollywood Blvd.,
Los Angeles CA 90027
323-666-7667 Fax: 323-663-0243
www.laluzdejesus.com
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Shijuukunichi 49 Days, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 30" x 20"
Yumiko Kayukawa "49 Days"
In Buddhism, the numbers 4 and 9 are bad luck.
The Japanese phonetic pronunciation of 4 (shi) is also that of death, and 9 (ku) is also pain. After death, the dead are believed to wander the earth for 49 days as spirits. Part of the cremation ceremony involves the passing of the ashes via chopsticks from one mourner to the other. They are ultimately collected into an urn, which is taken home and kept for that same 49 days, until they are buried in a grave reserved for the wandering spirit –who is then free to be born again into new life.
The paintings in Yumiko Kayukawa’s "49 Days" all carry a feeling of existing between life and death, and in these pieces, images of food and chopsticks can pertain to either. One of Yumiko’s great passions is eating, which she views as the symbolic opposite of death. She has a marvelous knack for infusing her paintings with that appreciation for fine food and dining, and the figures in her work seem to enjoy flavors that convey unbelievable delight –leaving the viewer with a slight bite of wistful envy.
Yumiko Kayukawa hails from Sapporo, Japan and made a name for herself early in her career for her candy-bright pop paintings of hip young women, animals and traditional Japanese motifs. Using acrylic and ink, Kayukawa blends fashion illustration, sharp iconic graphics, and meticulously rendered flora and fauna to create images that evoke a dreamy and enigmatically erotic tone. The girls in Kayukawa’s paintings are mysterious and elusive-- using images of both innocence and fetish, in a sexy, subtle way, always engaging the viewer with direct eye contact. The fantasy of these dream girls is mixed with the realistic depictions of nature-- insects, birds, and animals are always present, bringing a sense of the messy and real world crashing joyfully into the lives of these pristine, icy beauties. Traditional Japanese flower motifs and kanji characters used in an untraditional way round out the compositions creating a jolting, modern tone to the paintings.
Artist Website
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Contact the Gallery Director for availability and purchase info: (323) 666-7667, sales@laluzdejesus.com
La Luz de Jesus Gallery is located in the Soap Plant/Wacko building, in Los Feliz at 4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Gallery hours are Monday – Wednesday: 11am – 7pm, Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 9pm and Sunday 12-6pm. For high resolution jpegs, interview requests and more information contact: Lee Joseph Publicity, leejemail@gmail.com, p (818) 848-269, f (818) 848-2699. www.leejosephpublicity.com
