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HIRO ICHIKAWA (1959-2017) A Place of Calm April – June 2022
H
onoring the late JapaneseAmerican artist, Hiro Ichikawa, with the first solo exhibition at Woodward Gallery since his passing in 2017. All are welcome to experience Ichikawa’s serene land and waterscapes, where calm and beauty live in harmony with nature. Woodward Gallery presents a selection of paintings in “A Place of Calm”, by Artist Hiro Ichikawa (1959-2017), as a brief refuge during this time of international terror and its resulting global unrest. This overview of Ichikawa’s gentle, organic abstractions quenches the need for peaceful contemplation. Hiro Ichikawa’s oil paintings are created on birch panels, with thinly-applied paint and glazes, beautifully blending natural wood grain with the colorful composition. Dots create designs reminiscent of traditional kimono patterns, referencing his family’s business in Japan. Compositions, alive with gentle brush strokes and earth tones, emphasize a soothing, Zeninspired appreciation of our world.
Ichikawa’s timeless art does not compete with nature; instead, these abstractions come directly from it. Mr. Ichikawa has created his own ethereal scenes, inspired by land, the night sky, satellite images showing the Earth’s topography, human migration paths, and the spiritual functionality of human bodies. This presentation of Ichikawa’s work is awash with a variety of luminescent colors, resulting from the artist’s technique of applying clusters of tiny dots on his canvas. Ichikawa once explained, “Literally translated, san-sui, means mountain and water, but, in Japanese art, san-sui represents the creation of an imaginary landscape that doesn’t exist in the physical realm. After applying colors and tones as randomly as possible, a vague feeling of illusional space appears on a surface of a painting. In order to make the sense of a space more concrete, I look for winding paths like streams of water in the scene.”
Hiro Ichikawa’s painting titles gently hint at the scene he envisions. For example: the work called, “Drift”, refers to the sensation of floating; “Timbre”, as in, music; and “Periopsis”, as in, space. The dots and designs are a perceived life-form that wind through the topography of wooden grain. Each piece is hand-framed by the Artist as a window into his mind’s eye. This body of work manifests a non-threatening, non-menacing art sanctuary. True to his passion, Hiro volunteered, locally, for Scenic Hudson, as a trail steward, protecting the Earth he loved so much. Every week, he offered his time by hiking and maintaining their many trails through the Hudson Highlands. Ichikawa also organized and managed a printmaking (etching) group at the Garrison Art Center, NY. Born in Osaka, Japan, Hiro Ichikawa studied painting and drawing at Suidobata Art Academy. After moving to the United States in 1980, he graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA. Ichikawa’s art
has been featured in numerous national, international, solo, and group exhibitions at both galleries and museums, alike. His paintings are now in the permanent collection of Okawa Museum of Art (http:// okawamuseum.jp/), located in the City of Kiryū, where Hiro lived and worked before coming to New York. Kiryū, Japan is known for its lovely green hills, mountains, and two rivers, which flow through the city, providing early inspiration to the Artist in his youth. Relocating to Beacon, the scenic mountain and river views in Hudson Valley, New York, region further influenced his vision to paint untroubled, peaceful work. There are several ways to join us for Hiro Ichikawa’s “A Place of Calm” Solo Exhibition; the paintings will be available to view 24/7 in the Woodward Gallery street-level windows (in-person or by private appointment), through a digital catalogue on our website, on Artsy. net, and presented in an Artsy Viewing Room.
Literally translated, san-sui means mountain and water, but in Japanese art, San-sui represents the creation of an imaginary landscape that doesn’t exist in the physical realm. HIRO ICHIKAWA
PAINTINGS
Allotrope, 2010 Sumi ink on Japanese Kumohada paper 36.75 x 17.75 inches; 93.3 x 45.1 cm Signed in pencil, Artist stamped signature and dated LR
Rover, 2003 Oil on wood 24.5 x 10 inches; 62.2 x 25.4 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
After applying colors and tones as randomly as possible, a vague feeling of illusional space appears on a surface of a painting. In order to make the sense of a space more concrete, I look for winding paths like streams of water in the scene. HIRO ICHIKAWA
Timbre, 2006 Oil on wood 25.75 x 11 inches; 65.4 x 27.9 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Silent Nimbus, 2006, Oil on wood, 25.5 x 25.5 inches; 64.8 x 64.8 cm, Signed, dated, & titled on verso.
Monologue, 2007 Oil on wood 25.6 x 7 inches; 65 x 17.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Periapsis 2007, Oil on wood, 25.5 x 25.5 inches; 64.8 x 64.8 cm, Signed, dated, & titled on verso
Glacous Cause, Linkage & Overlay
Occurrence, 2007 Oil on wood 25.5 x 7 inches; 64.8 x 17.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Drift, 2005, Oil on wood14.25 x 25.75 inches; 36.2 x 65.4 cm, Signed, dated, and titled on verso.
Kairos, 2006 Oil on wood 11 x 16.25 inches; 27.9 x 41.3 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Fold, 2003 Oil on wood 26 x 48 inches; 66 x 121.9 cm Signed, dated and titled on verso
Oblation, 2007 Oil on wood 20.25 x 20.25 inches; 51.4 x 51.4 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
A View From A Roof, 1999, Oil on wood, 5.5 x 38 inches;14 x 96.5 cm, Signed, dated and titled on verso.
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Glacous Cause, 2006 Oil on wood 40 x 25.5 inches; 101.6 x 64.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Linkage, 2012 Oil on wood 40 x 25 inches; 101.6 x 63.5 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Overlay, 2012 Oil on wood 40 x 25 inches; 101.6 x 63.5 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Mr. Ichikawa’s paintings are in the permanent collection of Okawa Museum of Art, http://okawamuseum.jp/, located in the City of Kiryū, where Ichikawa lived and worked before coming to New York. Kiryū, Japan is known for it’s geography of lovely green hills, mountains and two rivers which flow through the city perhaps providing early inspiration to the Artist in his youth.
EXHIBITION LIST
HIRO ICHIKAWA (1959 - 2017) Allotrope, 2010 Sumi ink on Japanese Kumohada paper Framed size: 36.75 x 17.75 inches; 93.3 x 45.1 cm Signed in pencil, Artist stamped signature and dated LR
Kairos, 2006 Oil on wood Framed size: 11 x 16.25 inches; 27.9 x 41.3 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Rover, 2003 Oil on wood Framed size: 24.5 x 10 inches; 62.2 x 25.4 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Fold, 2003 Oil on wood Framed size: 26 x 48 inches; 66 x 121.9 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Timbre, 2006 Oil on wood Framed size: 25.75 x 11 inches; 65.4 x 27.9 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Oblation, 2007 Oil on wood Framed size: 20.25 x 20.25 inches; 51.4 x 51.4 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Silent Nimbus, 2006 Oil on wood Framed size: 25.5 x 25.5 inches; 64.8 x 64.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
A View From A Roof, 1999 Oil on wood Framed size: 5.5 x 38 inches; 14 x 96.5 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Monologue, 2007 Oil on wood Framed size: 25.6 x 7 inches; 65 x 17.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso Periapsis, 2007 Oil on wood Framed size: 25.5 x 25.5 inches; 64.8 x 64.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso Occurrence, 2007 Oil on wood Framed size: 25.5 x 7 inches; 64.8 x 17.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso Drift, 2005 Oil on wood Framed size: 14.25 x 25.75 inches; 36.2 x 65.4 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
Glacous Cause, 2006 Oil on wood Framed size: 40 x 25.5 inches; 101.6 x 64.8 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso Linkage, 2012 Oil on wood Framed size: 40 x 25 inches; 101.6 x 63.5 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso Overlay, 2012 Oil on wood Framed size: 40 x 25 inches; 101.6 x 63.5 cm Signed, dated, and titled on verso
RESUME
Wo odward Gallery Esta bl ish ed 19 9 4
HIRO ICHIKAWA (1959 - 2017) Education: 1959 1977-79 1980 1984
Born in Osaka, Japan. Studied painting and drawing at Suidobata Art Academy. Moved to the United States of America. Graduated with a BFA from Pratt Institute.
Select Exhibitions: 2022 2018 2017 2016 2015 2015 2015 2014 2014 2014 2013 2012 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011 2011 2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 2008 2008 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2005
Hiro Ichikawa - A Place of Calm (Solo), Woodward Gallery, NYC Mountains and Rivers Without End (Solo), Scenic Hudson River Center Gallery, Beacon, NY 5th Anniversary Group Show, Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY Fall Salon, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC Passages (Solo), Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan Passages (Solo), Gallery Marya, Takatsuki, Japan Woodward Gallery Decades, Woodward Gallery, NYC In-Between (Solo), Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan In-Between (Solo), Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY Forgotten Dreams, Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY Paths (Solo), Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan Streams (Solo), Gallery Marya, Takatsuki, Japan Streams (Solo)”, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan Scapes (Solo), Scott & Bowne Fine Art & Furnishings, Kent, CT Prints without Pixels, Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY Illusions (Solo), RiverWinds Gallery, Beacon, NY Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Gallery Marya Takatsuki, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo) Mogi Gallery Kiryu, Japan BIG Paper Winter, featuring original works by Basquiat, Calder, DeKooning, Richard Hambleton, Franz Kline, Rauschenberg, Ad Reinhardt, Warhol; Woodward Gallery, NYC Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Gallery Marya Takatsuki, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Mogi Gallery Kiryu, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Gallery Marya Takatsuki, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Mogi Gallery Kiryu, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Gallery Marya, Takatsuki, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo) Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Gallery Marya Takatsuki, Japan Hiro Ichikawa (Solo), Mogi Gallery Kiryu, Japan Gallery Artists ‘06-’07, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. One Person Show, Gallery Maya, Osaka, Japan. Winter Paper Seven, Group Exhibition including works on paper by Jean Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder, Richard Estes, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, and others, Woodward Gallery, NYC
Select Exhibitions Continued: 2004 HM2, Three - Person Exhibition, Hiro Ichikawa, Mark Mastroianni and Maura Robinson, Woodward Gallery, NYC 2003 Paper Invitational VI, Group Exhibition including works on paper by Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, and others; Woodward Gallery, NYC 2003 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 2002 Paper Invitational V, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 2002 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 2001 Always in Our Hearts, Group Exhibition of Artists in Response to 9/11, Woodward Gallery, NYC. 2001 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 2000 Paper Invitational IV, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 2000 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 1999 Paper Invitational III, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 1999 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 1998 Nature, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 1998 Paper Invitational II, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 1998 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 1997 Paper Invitational, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 1997 One Person Show, Gallery Q, Tokyo, Japan. 1997 Long Hot Summer, Aljira Gallery, Newark, NJ. 1996 One Person Show, Mogi Gallery, Kiryu, Japan. 1996 Kan, Document 376, Kiryu, Japan. 1995 Aesthetic Mystic, Group Exhibition, Woodward Gallery, NYC 1994 One Person Show, Boke, Kiryu, Japan. 1994 One Person Show, Boke, Kiryu, Japan. 1993 Yurin-kan collage, Yurin-kan, Kiryu, Japan. 1993 One Person Show, Boke, Kiryu, Japan. 1992 Contemporary Artists in NY, Kool Art, New York, NY. 1987 Small Works, Brooklyn Art and Culture Academy, New York, NY. 1986 On, Of and About Paper, Rotunda Gallery, New York, NY. 1985 Small Works, Brooklyn Art and Culture Academy, New York, NY. Bibliography: ArtNews, full page illustration, February, 2004 Post Road, Issue No. 33, pgs. 33-48 Juxtapoz, Old Friends, January 2007, p. 16. Joe Bendik, Paper Products, Chelsea Clinton News, January 28, 2010, p. 12 Poughkeepsie Journal, by Linda Marston - Reid, December 18, 2014 Hiro Ichikawa, Mountains and Rivers Without End, Paintings from a Trail, Exhibition Catalogue, digital, Scenic Hudson River Center, October 2018 Hiro Ichikawa - A Place of Calm, Exhibition Catalogue, digital, Woodward Gallery, April 2022 Permanent Collections: Okawa Museum of Art, Kiryu, Japan Woodward Gallery, NYC 132A Eldridge Street, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10002 phone: 212.966.3411 fax: 212.966.3491 e-mail: Art@WoodwardGallery.net by appointment only www.WoodwardGallery.net
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