Exhibition: “Goldfish Salvation” by Riusuke Fukahori ICN Gallery London

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Exhibition: “Goldfish Salvation” by Riusuke Fukahori ICN Gallery London

November 22, 2011 Diverse Japan Leave a comment Go to comments

1 December 2011 – 11 January 2012 (Closed between 23 Dec – 3 Jan)

ICN gallery 96-98 Leonard Street; London EC2A 4RH

Opening from 7:00pm on 1 December

ICN gallery proudly presents “Goldfish Salvation” by artist Riusuke Fukahori from 1 Dec 2011 – 11 Jan 2012. His debut exhibition in London transforms ICN gallery into the world of goldfish, the artist’s life long theme. Ten years ago when Fukahori faced a struggle with his artistic vision, an inspiration came to him from painting his pet goldfish. Ever since his passion has developed into an unique style of painting; using acrylic painted on clear resin poured into containers, resulting in a three-dimensional appearance with a feeling of lifelike vitality. This rare exhibition comprises of twenty new painting works by one of Japan’s leading contemporary artists.

‘Kingyo Sukui’ normally means ‘Goldfish scooping’ in Japanese, but the artist uses a homonym Chinese letter to create an unique expression, which can be translated as ‘Goldfish Salvation’. When distressed with his career as an artist Fukahori noticed the fish tank beside his bed which housed a goldfish he had for years. He looked down into the fish tank which he abandoned cleaning and was given a breathtaking shiver. In the dirty water the goldfish’s shiny red silhouette moved mysteriously and was extremely beautiful. Thinking to himself “I’m sure she will save me”, he took out his red paint and painted her figure, a moment later there was a large shoal of goldfish in front of him. This was the day he calls ‘Kingyo sukui’, the day he was saved by the goldfish.

(Image courtesy of the ICN gallery)

“I will keep searching for the motivation for my activities as an artist and my identity through goldfish. While salvaged and suffered by goldfish, I will live with goldfish and stare at myself further.” – Riusuke Fukahori

Over the years the goldfish breeding business has reached an extreme, perfecting goldfish in a variety of colours and shapes, they are admired as beautiful objects like ‘living sculptures’. Fukahori’s brush strokes capturing the liveliness, delicacy and dynamics of the goldfish and his sculpture works create an illusion by using resin to captive the painted surfaces creating a truly ‘living sculpture’.

A live painting performance by Riusuke Fukahori will be held on 3 December 14:00 – 15:00.

(Image courtesy of the ICN gallery)

About the artists:

Riusuke FUKAHORI (b.1973; Aichi, Japan) 1995 graduate of Aichi Prefectual University of Fine Arts and Music. In 2000 he was inspired by a goldfish he owned for over 7 years and it has become the theme of his artworks ever since. Exhibition: “Contemporary craft fair” (Tokyo), The SOLO project (Basel, Switzerland) 2011, “art KARLSRUHE 2010” (Germany) 2010, Solo exhibition “Galerie an der Pinakothek der Moderne” (Munich, Germany) 2009, SHANGHAI ART FAIR 2008” (Shanghai) 2008.

About ICN gallery:

Connecting the creative world from Asia. ICN gallery is contemporary art gallery based in London that actively seeks to showcase and share with the UK public upcoming & young contemporary artists from Japan and other Asian countries. Besides organising exhibitions, ICN also host events, seminars and workshops offering the public a chance to have a more personal engagement with creative work.