The Tiger Gallery presents a solo exhibition with new work from acclaimed Japanese artist Izumi Kato
For Izumi Kato, art is something to be experienced directly. His artwork embodies the idea that all things, vital and non-vital, are imbued with some form of spirit. He works with his bare hands; carving soft camphor wood, stitching and knotting textiles, and smearing paint with his fingertips. He isn’t particular about the materials he uses – often they are offcuts or discards – he makes artworks out of sheet metal, stones, and miniature plastic toys. What matters is that by using these simple, found materials he gets closer to finding art in the everyday.
Kato was born in Shimane, Japan 1969, and studied oil painting at the Musashino Art University. As a young artist, he was inspired by Japanese artists of the previous generation, the radical artists of the Gutai movement of the 1950s, who combined provocative performances with emotive painting, art installations, and multimedia collaborations. In the 2000s, Kato began to produce sculptures, applying all he had learned as a painter to artworks in three dimensions. It was these works that made his name, when they were first exhibited in 2007 at the 52nd Venice Biennale and caught the eyes of the international art world.
Since then, Kato has refined his signature style. Today, he is best known for his depiction of embryonic forms; figures with bulbous heads, blank eyes, and elongated limbs. Sometimes distinctly human, at other times it’s unclear what exactly is shown; animal, vegetal, or spiritual. Their sleek forms merge seamlessly with their environments, radiating energy in the form of lines, dots, and circles painted in bright, bold, clashing colours. These enigmatic, shapeshifting figures are reminiscent of prehistoric cave art, or of Yōkai, the supernatural entities attested to in Japanese folklore. Kato’s art reconnects the modern world to the ancient mystical ideas that have been almost forgotten.
Kato’s recent exhibitions have seen him expand his use of found materials and ready-made artworks. In 2020, he exhibited large paintings made on corrugated metal at Perrotin, Paris. Between 2020 and 2023 he began to incorporate plastic toys into his artworks. This series, named Parasitic Plastic Models, formed the basis of his first UK solo exhibition, held earlier this year at Stephen Friedman Gallery, London.
His latest exhibition, currently on show at Tiger Gallery, London, takes a different object as its starting point: the Onitsuka Tiger trainer. Kato has produced sculptures that incorporate the trainers, hand-painted shoe boxes, and mixed media works that pay homage to the iconic, heritage Japanese brand founded in 1949.
To celebrate the exhibition, Port spoke to Kato about his artistic practice and how this collaboration came about.
What do you want to explore with your art?
Human potential.
What is your personal connection to Onitsuka Tiger?
I’ve been a fan of Onitsuka for a long time and I still wear their shoes to this day.
What drew you to this project?
Numerous artists have simply designed sneakers, prompting me to consider a collaboration that is uniquely my own.
You put great significance on materials and texture in your art. Why are materials so important to you?
Just like how ingredients are important in cooking, they are equally crucial in painting and sculpting.
When did you start using ready made objects in your art, and why?
In 2020, because of the pandemic, many of my planned exhibitions and activities were postponed. This gave me the opportunity to pursue my hobby of creating and purchasing plastic models. While browsing the internet, I stumbled upon some vintage plastic animal models from the 1950s. Intrigued, I decided to incorporate them into my wood carving. I soon realised that utilising these pre-made models was more efficient for my work, even though I did not create the animals myself.
That said, I believe that my ultimate goal in creating art is centred around painting. Although I produce a variety of works, painting is my true passion and what I strive to excel in the most.
Where do you find inspiration for this collaboration?
Onitsuka’s sneakers, its sneaker boxes, the iconic Tiger face.
What do you believe art can learn from fashion? And what can fashion learn from art?
I believe that everything influences each other, not only fashion and art.
What drives you to continue creating?
I have a strong desire to use my life for artistic expression.
PARASITIC: ONITSUKA runs at the Tiger Gallery until September 22nd, 2023
