Message from Sofia

ヨーロッパの日本人アーティスト

Masahiko Hayashi – the European Japanese Artist

When starting to think on this critical issue for me became more and more clear – Masahiko Hayashi is Japanese as well European artist.

Then I proved both of the possible Formula: Japanese European Artist or European Japanese Artist?!…

My experience as Gallery owner, curator, organizer of exhibitions and projects, and last but not least – as a Collector of Contemporary International Art is spanned in a time of 25 years art activities. Beginning with Contemporary Bulgarian Artists I succeed to gain international attention and nowadays in the projects and exhibitions of Lessedra take part hundreds of artists from all over the world.

In 2001-2002 we had our first cooperation with Japanese artists organizing exhibitions here in Bulgaria as well in Japan with Japan Print Association and my first visit in Japan was in 2003. My contacts have been mainly with Printmakers, but I saw a lot of exhibitions in many cities and galleries.

By my third visit in 2008 in the region of Nagoya/Nagano we went with my friends to a museum where I have been impressed by very European looking paintings large scale. At first sight I thought this is European (may be Italian) artist. The spirit of Arte Povera spout out from the works and I felt it also in the air around us. This was One Man show of Masahiko Hayashi. I have not met the artist, but I left information in the guest book with my admiration for his art.

After 3 years when starting a new project – International Painting and Mixed Media Competition I reminded my Japanese friends about Masahiko with a kind request to invite him to send works. For my good surprise he sent 3 small size paintings according to the regulations 15 x 15 cm. The next surprise for me made the international jury composed by (5) professors and artists from Bulgaria, Israel and Turkey – Masahiko Hayashi won the First Prize, selected among 297 artists from 53 countries!

The Spirit of Arte Povera is reinvigorated in the paintings by Masahiko not only on a different, Japanese way, but on a personal way of thinking when the artist is using also material (earth clay) from the place where he is living. This original style is avoiding that modernity can erase our sense of memory with all signs of the past which we are bringing with us from the childhood during our life.

Masahiko Hayashi is seeking and succeeding to find the contrast between old and new in order to complicate our sense of the effects of the past time.

The Insignificant is coming into being Art.

Physical presence and behavior of the artist is the most significant for the art of Masahiko Hayashi – as a prove for the strength of Art as an act of responsibility!

Georgi Kolev

Owner & Director

Lessedra Gallery & Contemporary Art Projects

Sofia, June 2012

牛の角

このところ勘違いしていた？。自分の中のニヒリズム的なものを仕舞い込んだまま絵に向かっていたような気がしている。・・・
それは非社会的で出し方はとても要注意事項だ。でもしっかりと自分の中にはあることは知っているはず。そこを押さえ込んだままの暮らすのは辛いだろうが出せば出したで周りとの折り合いが難しい。
一番最近では　春の南無の展覧会で　そのときは無意識だったが出した気がする。小品をかなり自分勝手に攻撃的にさえ感じられるように作り上げたが　不評だった。見事に一枚も売れなかったのだ。また、来てくれた地元の人々は　柔和な人が多かったからやっぱりあの毒はダメだろう。
それからそこの部分を無意識に仕舞い込んでしまった。
いま　個展を控えて　自分のごまかしが炙り出されているといえる。自分のニヒリズム的なものをもっと見詰めよう。角をとって牛を殺してはならないのだ。

今秋の予定

わたしの秋は農作業やら展覧会やらほんとに多忙な季節で　なかなかゆったりとした時を過ごすことができない。というか『～しなければならない』という観念に追われてばかりで気持ちにゆとりが全くないのだ。そのくせそのくせ仕事場のソファーでひっくり返って時を無為に過ごしている。・・・ああ
　今期の展覧会をここに記すことにしました。
１）新耀展　　巡回長野展
　　　　　　10/23（火）～25（木）　　　ホクト文化ホール１Ｆギャラリー
２）ＣＡＦ．Ｎ展
　　　　　　11／6（火）～18（日）　　　埼玉近代美術館
３）個展
　　　　　　11／19（月）～24（土）　　東京銀座　画廊るたん
　昨日は米の臼挽きが半分終わり　少し気持ちが楽になったのが嬉しかった。絵はなかなか『これでよし』という心境になれないので　農作業の方で開放感を味わった形である。もう一ヶ月間がんばろうではないか！