Installation View, 2012, Nobuya Hoki at Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto, Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa, Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
Nobuya Hoki has just finished his solo exhibition at Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto. He is a Kyoto-based artist who is developing a unique and experimental approach to painting. The exhibition was showcasing a new body of work which represents the distinctive characteristics of his drawing style.
Untitled by Nobuya Hoki, 2011, Indian ink on paper (108 x 76.5cm / 42.5 x 30.1 inch), Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa, Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
Hoki’s unique method is termed “double-line painting” by the artist himself. He always works extemporaneously and draws every line in a single stroke with two painting tools in his hand. Consequently drawn figures have double lines and it leaves blurry impression on the surface. However when I gazed at the drawing closely, I noticed that the details are done with extremely delicate touch and even smooth curve of the lines have very sharp, crisp edges. A question came up in my mind whilst looking at these works. “How did he draw such a clear lines with brushes?” I put a question to a staff of Taka Ishii Gallery. The answer is “Hoki does not use brushes. He uses his original tools which made by himself.” He is, in fact, an exceptional artist.
Untitled by Nobuya Hoki, 2011, Acrylic on paper (36.2 x 51.2cm / 14.25 x 20.15 inch), Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa, Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
Hoki’s another series are made up of dots in restricted four colors. These rhythmic curved lines and harmony of colors are also created in an improvisatory manner with his original tool.
Installation View, 2012, Nobuya Hoki at Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto, Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa, Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
Untitled by Nobuya Hoki, 2012, Oil on canvas (194 x 131cm / 76.4 x 51.6 inch), Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa, Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
As for Hoki’s works, it is crucial to experience those blur generated by “doubled-lines painting”. I imagine that he is attempting to emulate the effects of motion blur of photography in painting. But they are not just for achieving visual effects. Beyond the sense of sight, he might be trying to show something invisible between those two lines.
Untitled by Nobuya Hoki, 2011, Colored pencil on paper (25.5 x 18cm / 10.03 x 7.08 inch), Photo: Yasushi Ichikawa, Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
Lastly, I would like to call attention to the fact that photos posted here cannot do justice to actual paintings, which were far more striking than what the camera captured. So I strongly recommend you see for yourself when you’ve got an opportunity to meet his works in the future.
text by Natsuki Niimi
Exhibition Info
Date: 20 January – 25 February, 2012
Place: Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto
Address: 483 Nishigawa-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
