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