Today I went to visit the new exhibition by Akira Tomii. The exhibit was being held in a gallery which I had never visited before and obviously I got quite lost, yet eventually I found it, with a tiny unmarked door with curious paper shapes stuck to the glass of the window. I climbed the narrow wooden stairs and gently opened the sliding wooden door. I was met by a very compact and simple space, with the art hanging on simple two tone walls. An unremarkable kitchen chair sat in the middle of the room, the bottle of red wine providing the most obvious colour.
The card and traditional sweet I received
I was quickly met by Akira’s friend who had been coerced into minding the gallery whilst he ran errands who provided me not only with delicious tea and traditional Japanese sweets but also sparkling conversation whilst I viewed the dozen or so works on display. Akira’s style uses very minimal colouration, concentrating on soothing tones of brown, grey and yellow, yet his deft brush strokes give a much greater depth and texture than is evident in prints or photographs of his work. This surface simplicity draws you into the paintings as you begin to unveil new layers the longer that you study them. I find this kind of work mesmerising and quite restful as the eye is allowed to gently absorb the subtleties without being overwhelmed by stark blocks of bright primary colours, almost an anti-Warhol if you will.
I was met by a very compact and simple space….
As I was ready to depart, I paused to sign the guest book, and was once more approached by Akira’s friend, who’s name I did not get, who invited me to view some of his scraps. This for me was an absolute treat (being the tactile person I am) as the different textures of the papers and cards which Akira had tested and refined his style on each gave a different touch. It was clear from these doodles and sketchings that Akira has a subtle mastery of shading, of using lines to impart shadow and highlight which carries over into his painting. I’ll be honest and say that I enjoyed rummaging through this box of cast off ideas more than viewing the paintings. There was an unfinished rawness to them, that was missing from the polished and refined paintings, a sense that he worked on them just as long as he was inspired, without over gilding. I also felt like I was examining something much more personal and felt it gave me a better insight into his work.
I would recommend anyone who has a spare hour in the next few days to go along and see this work before the exhibition ends on January 7th.
Akira Tomii “The Other Trip”
Venue: Gallery Room No.1 / Room No.2
Schedule: From 2006-12-31 To 2007-01-07
Open everyday from 13:00-21:00
Address: Eiko Bldg 2F, 1-14 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
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