Resol Gallery Ueno

The Sun and the Moon (2020, Keita Shimizu, acrylic paint on wooden panel, set of 2)

On the large pedestrian bridge in front of Ueno Station, there are two large objects themed on the sun and the moon. Each is installed in a different place on the bridge, and the "moon" object in particular is not well known, but both are works by the late Shoji Yokokawa, an environmental designer and one of my university teachers. Through the appearance of a sculpture that expresses the difference between yin and yang in an abstract form, it encourages travelers visiting the Ueno area to make small discoveries. With respect to Professor Yokokawa...

Panda (2020 Masaru Ishikawa and Keita Shimizu, acrylic paint on resin figure)

Based on the Japanese block-type figure BE@BRICK, the symbol of Ueno, the panda has been dyed in cherry blossom pink.
Baby pandas who have their fur licked by their mother turn pink, so the cherry blossom pink panda is a sign of love. The object, which has been painted over and over again with time and love, will grow up together with Risol Ueno, loved by many customers.

EDO, rotated 90° (2020 Keita Shimizu, printed on canvas)

If you invert the colors of an old map from the end of the Edo period and rotate it 90 degrees, it looks like a satellite photo of Tokyo at night. Where is Resol Ueno?

Ueno (2020 Keita Shimizu, acrylic paint on wooden panel)

There was a painting in a foreign land, depicting a historic town crowded with many buildings with simple black lines. Ueno is also lined with many unique buildings, but what would happen if I depicted the coexistence of these buildings in a simple way, not in a descriptive way, but with a boyish feeling? I took up my brush with a very simple thought, without thinking too deeply.

"AE 8" (50cm diameter, acrylic)

This piece is inspired by the Athenian owl, which was depicted on ancient Greek silver coins.
I am drawn to small images that have survived for a long time, and I paint them by layering my own colors and shapes upon them.
Through the owl, a symbol of wisdom and protection, we express a sense of the past and present quietly connecting, and a feeling of prayer that is passed down through generations.

"Aries II" (Size S3, Acrylic)

I depicted Aries as a being gracefully soaring through the night sky.
While this constellation is inherently powerful and grounded, in this artwork I imagine it with wings, freed from gravity.
By layering colors and shapes, I expressed the idea of an entity that embodies both moving forward and being free.

"Cosmo Moon" (25cm diameter, acrylic)

I created this piece using the moon as a motif.
I depicted it as a single moon floating in the night sky, yet within it, the entire universe seems to be condensed.
By layering colors, lines, and shapes that arose by chance, I expressed the feeling of stars, light, time, and fragments of memories blending together.

"Uo II" (Size S0, Acrylic)

When I first started drawing the 12 zodiac signs, I was afraid of deviating too much from the constellation diagrams that are derived from the arrangement of stars.
I felt strongly that "I'm drawing constellations, not animals."
However, as I researched the origins of each constellation, I came to appreciate the unique characteristics and relationships of each sign.
The image of Pisces, especially a fish swimming freely and gracefully, is the zodiac sign that helped me to be more flexible in my thinking.

"Family II - Libra & Gemini" (F15 size, acrylic)

This is a combination of the 12 zodiac signs Libra and Gemini.
This "Family" series was created with the image of the bonds between family and close friends in mind.
I placed an owl as a decorative element in the center of the Libra constellation. The owl is a symbolic motif in my work, representing a guardian spirit.

"Family III - Capricorn & Aquarius" (SM, Acrylic)

This design combines the zodiac signs Capricorn and Aquarius. The "Family" series was created to represent the bonds between family and close friends. The Capricorn is a mythical creature with the lower body of a fish. It also has a clumsy reputation, making it one of the most endearing zodiac signs.

"Family IV -Taurus&Gemini-" (Size S0, Acrylic)

This design combines the zodiac signs Taurus and Gemini. The "Family" series was created to represent the bonds between family and close friends.
The bull is modeled after the African watusi cattle. Its overwhelming presence and gentle nature perfectly fit the role of a "warm and powerful presence" that Gemini can trust and rely on in this artwork.