For some years now, Japanese and American tattooers Horiyoshi III and Jess Yen like to meet every year for a common exhibition in Tokyo. Titled « Korouten », these are the opportunity for the two professionals to express freely their art, on different mediums than skin. The 2019 issue was set from November 5th to 11th in a familal context.
After Omotesando, it is now in the very dynamic area of Shibuya, in the Art Gallery Dougenzaka, that the two artists decided to set their show. One gallery, two spaces. On the left, Jess Yen; on the right, Horiyoshi III. The American was presenting drawings done with pencil and felt-pen. Initially preparatory sketches for tattoo projects, once tattooed, the drawings had been refined and achieved to make real artworks, showing Jess’ mastery of the japanese iconography (dragons, carps, but also warriors ans skeletons). There were exhibited side by side with four other memebrs of his family : Lucy Hu, Horishin, Horitran, Man Yao et Duy Nguyen. Invited for the occasion, all of them have asian roots. Their big paintings were an opportunity to show, through references to ancient vietnamese, chinese, etc., folk tales the diversity and the richness of their cultures.
The other space was dedicated to the Horiyoshi III family, meaning the Yokohama master and his son, Soryou who, for the first exhibited one painting of a dragon honoring the ones his father initiated. Horiyoshi III is still pursuing his impressive work of silk painting - which is known to be a very difficult technique to master- he started 6 years ago. Thanks to huge vertical paintings (kakejiku), he shown an indisputable level of mastery – gained at an expensive, sensei was saying that he’s training everyday, several hours a day, starting after 6am for 2 hours before stopping to concentrate on tattooing and then again to get back for a couple of hours more… What an impressive vital energy, set at the service of his determination to follow his way, personal and unique in its kind. The subject of the paintings echoes to those shown in tattooing, with very delicate atmosphere, oniric, and perfectly rendered thanks to skilled paintbrush’s use. Sensual and elegant, Horiyoshi III’s artworks are stunning. The exhibition was also the occasion to show his first diptyque, the fight between a dragon and a tiger, one of the most expensive artworks displayed in the gallery. One you should spend around 8 000 euros to have the privilege to see it on your walls. You can follow the developments of this exhibition project on the Instagram account : @korouten.jp
