Takahi Kawanishi: The Art Of Transience

30 May 2007 Category: Arts & Crafts, Events & Exhibitions, Japan

Takahi Kawanishi: The Art Of Transience

Yellowed notes as reminder that everything mundane is ephemeral and will be gone eventually. Looks like the tickler of a faded European composer, but this is the work of Japanese artist Takahi Kawanishi from Tokyo.

Takahi Kawanishi’s works have adorned the Japanese book cover of an Irvine Welsh novel and a DAZED&CONFUSED Japan poster, amongst others. Just from looking at his painting and collages, you wouldn’t necessarily realize that he is in fact Japanese and was born in the Aichi prefecture in 1975. Indeed, the general feel of his works is quite different from a certain Japanese artistic approach, as you can see right now at his “EVERESTS” exhibition at POINT gallery in Ebisu.
For once, a good occasion for PingMag to explore the inner worlds of this introverted artist that used to collect dead bugs. Moreover, we pay reclusive Takahi Kawanishi a home visit and walk around his Japanese style apartment close to the urbanised Tamagawa river - an atelier space that is totally crammed with numberless paints and materials.

Written by Chiemi
Translated by Mie Hashizume

You definitely can say that his residence turned studio is overstuffed with paints and materials up to the top.

With all your paint stuff piled up around you, do you really live here?

Some people say it is hard to believe that I do, but this is simply my life-style.

Ink bottles meticulously lined up in a colour gradation.

Countless colour pencils and ballpoint pens.

Everything in perfect order: a number of spray cans on the shelves.

Let’s get practical: How long did it take to draw all thirty-five works for your current “EVERESTS” exhibition?

It took about two months. I usually draw fast but this time, as different nuance, I wanted a more profound feeling by adding new touches to the unfinished works from time to time – which made the whole process longer.

A painting now displayed at the exhibition.

Drawings scattered everywhere in Takahi’s atelier space.

The original photo for this pig drawing showed the animal from a different perspective – and Takahi imagined his own view.

What does “EVERESTS” mean, the exhibition’s theme?

One issue is to show my view of things. However first, the ability of drawing is fundamental, then comes your own little flavour to it. This time, I wanted to do it like in the beginning when I was trying to get into art school and tried to draw like that.

And where does the title come from?

Mount Everest is the highest in the world, of course. But when it comes to art, you can’t just narrow it down to only one best work of art, one mountain. So I added an ‘s’ to ‘Everest’ for the plural.

Meaning, you say these works all are little Mount Everests, right?

Well, my works haven’t reached such high levels yet. To be more precise, they are now proceeding “for Everests.”

This collage consisting of pasted papers could be called a kind of 3D work.

If you are aiming for “EVERESTS,” what is your main inspiration then?

Basically everything: smells, sounds and others inspire me. And especially goods that are no longer in use. The only thing with it is that inspiration doesn’t come as easy: if not now, maybe it will come in two years. So, the works for this exhibition are made of pieces of paper I usually throw away. This time, I have kept every piece of it. You can see the clipping saying “They throw away everything” over there…

A clipping on the wall saying, People throw away everything but things are still usable!!”

Oh, I saw that there’s no trash can here…

Yes, there is! (laughs) By the way, Japanese people that completely overstuff their homes with trash are called Gomiyashiki [an equivalent to the messy house syndrome]. I regard it as some kind of talent, although that is not my way of expression and I find it somewhat annoying when people are collecting trash. But my activities are kind of similar, only I try to express this obsessive collecting in the form of drawings.

However, I guess you can always find a different perspective to that, too: for example, contrary to the totally stuffed home, the old jeans’ revival is certainly regarded differently. It always takes a long time that old and abandoned things are appreciated again. In the beginning, they are not accepted easily. But then it depends on your point of view what kind of use you see in them. That is why I’m attracted to abandoned things.

A clipping partly used for previous works. “I think the left part is still cool so I’m keeping it,” Takahi says.

Does this special attitude towards abandoned things relate to your childhood?

Yes. For example, I used to bring home rusting nuts I found on the street. Usually, my parents scolded me for this and I eventually gave this habit up. But I kept on thinking how important this was for me. This stance reappears in my work, I believe.

Paper clippings all over the room. “Japanese children are spoiled with too many things and too much information and not allowed to make any decisions by themselves. They don’t even have a vacant ten minutes to just look up into the sky absently. Poor little things…,” says Takahi.

In that case, I might live another life if I hadn’t given up my habit of collecting pill bugs…

Oh yes, you could be Fabre or Damien Hirst now! (laughs) All kids are fascinated by living insects, but I was also very interested in the dead ones… I thought “What happens after they die?” So I got a couple of bugs and kept one alive and killed the other to keep the bug shell.

Children are such cruel creatures… It’s great that you didn’t turn out a bit weird…

Honestly, my parents worried about me a lot. One day, I cut the tail of my pet lizard and burst into tears from a sense of gilt. I haven’t had any mercy with the bugs before - but from that day, I couldn’t kill any insect ever again. I have no idea why, but anyway the incident seemed to work as a catalyst, I guess.

That’s a really strange story… Anyway, do you have a feeling you’d like to share with the visitors of your exhibition?

No, as I think my personal feelings don’t matter if you look at my works. Even if I my paper collages bear some of my sad memories, I’d be quite happy when there was a person who gets cheered up just by looking at them.

A snapshot of the young Takahi Kawanishi.

Finally, you obviously don’t like to be interviewed, but after hearing your story I kind of understand your works better. Mr. Kawanishi, we hope you keep on creating fantastic works. Thank you very much!


Takahi Kawanishi’s “EVERESTS” exhibition…

… currently at POINT gallery in Ebisu.

Info:
Takahi Kawanishi’s first exhibition in four years is currently on display at POINT gallery in Ebisu, Tokyo, through Saturday, June 2nd. This would be actually by this week end, so don’t miss it!
The exhibition is coming afterwards to Sapporo’s Soso Cafe.

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  2. the picture of the studio is amazing. with its texture, colors, objects, it really tells about the artist’s lifestyle. i am also amazed how he would focus in this studio. i would be overwhelmed by the decoration if i was workin there.

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