Ryoko Oikawa
Showing at The Gallery in March 2012
Ryoko Oikawa is an established and influential artist from Iwate, Japan. She has held exhibitions of her work in China, Japan, France and Bangkok where the Thai Royal Family described her as a “national treasure”. She has won many awards including the Culture Prize at the Japan/Italy Modern Great Artist’s Exhibition. Having sent her work to the UK for her exhibition here in May 2011, these paintings would have certainly been damaged if not destroyed by the recent tragedy in Japan.
A self taught artist, Ryoko Oikawa invites the viewer to embark on a journey of tranquil discovery. Working with a natural themes of flora and Japanese landscape, Ryoko’s work evokes a calming and poetic response. This exhibition is a unique insight into Japanese creative culture and traditions.
Ryoko’s use of heavily applied oils give the paintings a three dimensional quality, this depth gives the paintings a ‘living’ quality and a delicate nature. Ryoko achieves this aesthetic quality by using just one palette knife throughout all of her oil based paintings.
The gallery is highly delighted to exhibit this influential artist’s work here for the first time in the UK. Having gained international recognition from countries such as Thailand, France, Italy and Holland, we proudly present her work to the UK to be experienced and enjoyed.
Ryoko first became interested in painting at a very young age after an inspirational arts teacher complimented her work at school. This experience has sparked a lifelong passion for Ryoko to encourage young people and inspire them creatively.
When asked what her greatest artistic achievement was Ryoko said:
‘During one of my exhibitions in Japan, an elderly man came to see my work. He spent a long time viewing the work and afterwards came to tell me that he would wish to go to the places depicted in my paintings when he passed. That these places were of such tranquil and harmonious perfection that he would be happy to spend eternity there’
Ryoko finds inspiration from many sources, artists such as Claude Monet (in particular his ‘Bridge over a pond of waterlillies’, 1899 piece) have had an influence on her work. Also French painter Pierre Puvis de Chavannes has had a profound influence, Ryoko particularly found inspiration in ‘The poor fisherman’ by this artist.
When asked what other aspects of life Ryoko found inspiring she replied:
‘I find inspiration in the beauty within nature and the changing seasons. I also love how the landscape can evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and memory.’
As this is the artist’s first ever UK exhibition she is very interested in seeing how it will be received. I asked her what she wishes for people to feel as they view her work:
‘Firstly I want people to enjoy it, and for the paintings to make them feel free. I want the paintings to encourage people and make them feel positive. And I especially wish for the paintings to touch the heart.’
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