Masayoshi Nojo: Rest in Silver

12 September - 5 October 2024

Overview

JD Malat Gallery is delighted to announce "Rest in Silver" by renowned Japanese artist Masayoshi Nojo. The exhibition will be open to the public from September 12th to October 5th, 2024.

Born in 1989 in Kanagawa, Japan, Masayoshi Nojo completed his MA in Japanese Paintings in 2015 at the Kyoto University of Art and Design. Nojo's innovative and complex techniques blend contemporary visual languages with traditional Japanese aesthetics, deeply exploring themes of memory and the passage of time. Rooted in Japanese art history, Nojo's work prominently features silver - a medium that evokes the ethereal and shimmering qualities reminiscent of Ogata Kōrin's celebrated works from the Edo Period. Kōrin's marbled silver rivers, often depicted on byōbu folding screens, symbolized the flow of time through the changing color of the metal due to oxidation.

Masayoshi Nojo's work is deeply influenced by natural phenomena and the incorporation of uncontrollable elements. Drawing inspiration from Japan's rich natural landscapes, such as the serene Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Nojo's art is a reflection on how humans should live in harmony with nature. His pieces often feature intricate details and complex structures, making the experience of viewing them in person particularly significant. In "Rest in Silver," viewers will encounter forest landscapes that, while recognizable, remain abstract in their specific locations. Nojo's innovative use of silver, combined with aluminium powder and black paint, creates concentric rings resembling the annual growth rings of a tree. These intricate details are intended to provide a layered visual experience, encouraging viewers to move back and forth in front of the artworks, much like approaching a mirage.