Rica Tasaka “Embroidered NY”

AG Gallery

This event has ended.

AG Gallery is now showing “Embroidered NY” by Rica TASAKA.

Tasaka is a Japanese artist who explores washi as an art medium like oil paints and clay. Tasaka’s works are made completely with only embroider and Washi-paper collage. Tasaka collects images from around the world. Based on snapshots pictures she shot in cities she visited she creates her washi-art. Tasaka explores everyday subjects in her work that make us rediscover joys and happiness that lives in small parts of our daily life in a specific location of the world.

In this exhibition Tasaka created NYC landscape series using pictures and sketches of her visit to NYC last year as inspirations. We suggest gallery visitors to get extra closer to artworks this time, and see the details. They look like illustrations at a first sight but actually collaged paper and stitchings that make those “snapshot-like” pictures.

Exhibition is on view until August 24th, 2017. Please enjoy how NYC appeared to a visiting artist, you may discover something similar or different from what you know.

Artist Statement
I was born and raised in the bustling, food-centered city of Osaka, Japan in 1974. I spent my childhood creating unique works of art using everyday items I found around the house. Later in life, I entered the Life Design Department at the Kyoto Saga University of Arts.
While at the university, I designed furniture and various other household goods. After graduating in 1995, I worked at a company as an interior designer.
During that time I started working on my own art and in the process found traditional Japanese washi paper which totally changed my work. Washi paper has special textures that I can’t express using just paint. The texture and the hand-torn edges of the paper absorb and dissipate the ink in a way that makes each piece unique. I also embroider directly on the washi paper to give my work a three-dimensional texture and a visual rhythm as a single piece of art based on everyday life.
I resigned from my company in 2000 and became a freelance illustrator. I did illustrations in various media, as I actively worked on creating solo exhibitions. In 2015, I held my first public exhibition at the Karuizawa New Art Museum in Nagano. Then I had my first exhibit in Brooklyn, New York.
Coming to New York in 2017, greatly expanded my experience and style. The overwhelming energy of the city exhibited in its food, people, and lively culture caused me to explore a sense of movement and irregularity in my art. This has added power in addition to the sense of healing which was present in my previous work.
I hope that whoever sees my art feels like they have made a small discovery in their lives and it causes them to smile. That’s what keeps me going as an artist.