Tomokazu Matsuyama Blends the Modern and the Traditional, in Art and How It’s Exhibited
Tomokazu Matsuyama’s polychromatic art derives inspiration from various eras and cultures. A New York-based Japanese artist, Matsuyama’s techniques and aesthetic styles combine elements from the Japanese Edo and Meiji eras, French Renaissance paintings, and Western popular culture, as well as his own multicultural upbringing.
In his latest solo exhibition, Harmless Charm with Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Tomokazu Matsuyama introduced 13 new paintings in addition to nine new NFT digital artworks, marking the artist’s first foray into the world of NFTs. As expressed by the artist, “‘Harmless Charm’ represents my journey of self-discovery as an artist exploring a whole new medium, as well as a means of exploring our existence and optimizing hope for the future.”
Here is a look at three of the highlighted works by Tomokazu Matsuyama. Each belongs to a major series and sold out during the June selling exhibition at Sotheby’s.
Melody Mad Afternoon From the Fictional Landscape Series
Works in Tomokazu Matsuyama’s Fictional Landscape series are an amalgamation of different references and borrow inspiration from magazine cutouts, Internet images, and historical imagery from Chinese and Japanese paintings. In this work, Melody Mad Afternoon, Matsuyama creates a mix of history and contemporary art, leaving the interpretation to the viewer. Andy Warhol’s Brillo Box, a scarf from New York’s garment district, and a cat inspired by traditional Japanese painting come together in this work. It effectively breaks away from traditional geographical and cultural restraints.
Family Tree Harlem From the Equestrian Series
Paintings in Tomakazu Matsuyama’s Equestrian series feature many horses and riders. The horse and rider, historically, serves as a symbol in almost every culture. By adding colors, fashionable clothing, and a confused temporal meteorological state, Matsuyama aims to contradict the rustic and traditional equestrian image with a modern, cross-cultural one. Family Tree Harlem, minted in June 2022, is an NFT edition of five. Each edition is a unique looping video in 4K resolution.
In April of 2022, Something Came Together, another painting from the Equestrian series, set a new auction record during a Sotheby’s Hong Kong event. It sold for HKD 5,040,000 (USD 642,000), over six times its high estimate, setting an auction record for the artist.
Harmless Charm From the Abstract Series
Inspired by origami, Tomokazu Matsuyama’s Abstract series deconstructs typical abstract imagery to create a unique visual identity. In his work Harmless Charm, Matsuyama takes inspiration from ‘Senbazuru.’ Translated to ‘1,000 Cranes,’ Senbazuru is a group of 1,000 origami paper cranes strung together. According to ancient Japanese beliefs, anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. The significance of cranes in Japanese culture and the use of the character in his paintings reflects the artist’s relationship to his roots.
In their digital versions, these intentionally superficial paintings aim at immersing the viewer’s emotions. By launching NFT editions alongside his paintings, Matsuyama welcomed viewers to experience the harmony between two seemingly contradicting mediums.
Nick Buckley Wood, private sales director of Sotheby’s Asia, commented on the latest selling exhibition of Tomokazu Matsuyama’s NFTs: “As one of the most dynamic and acclaimed artists today, Matsuyama’s artworks build on his cross-cultural experience of growing up between Japan and the United States, exploring self-identity in our rapidly-changing modern society. For the first time ever, Matsuyama will display his iconic canvases alongside digital artworks, encouraging the viewer to question the meaning and values of our reality in today’s digital world.”
Looking for more coverage of NFTs? Earlier this year, we explored the first-ever NFT auction in India, which featured the work of Gobardhan Ash.
