Kenpei YUNDE Exhibition “A Happiness to Return to”

2025/04/05 2025/04/20

FUKUOKA

“Gathered by an Apple Forest and Pond on a Happy Morning”
Oil on canvas, 194×130.3cm, 2024

The artist will be at the gallery on : April. 5,6, 12, 13

Gallery Talk Event
Date & Time: April 6 (Sun), 2:00 pm –
The artist will discuss his thoughts on the Jomon era people and the roots of an artist’s creativity, by introducing his scenes from the documentary program titled, “The discourse of gods (Kamunagara no Katarahi)” (directed by Shohei Shiozaki), and looking back at his past works such as his Japanese constitution series, and the way in which his artistic style has changed.

Yunde-style New Impressionist Live Drawing
Date & Time: April 13 (Sun), 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
During the exhibition, Yunde will create live drawings based on sketches he did in the Aso, Kumamoto area. The sketches will be exhibited as well.

“At the foot of it all is soil, which is why I paint from the soil”

In his work, Kenpei Yunde always starts by painting a base layer of soil, all over the canvas. This follows his philosophy that everything exists upon the soil. His unique technique is to repeatedly apply and scrape off oil paint, which results in an accumulation of over 90 layers of color. As he paints, motifs that exist upon the soil, such as apples, Mt.Fuji and even rice balls, appear on the canvas, asking the viewer, “what is the essence of happiness”.
At the same time, Yunde has been increasing his interest in the Jomon era and its people, who had lived in harmony with nature without major fights for over 10000 years. His painting depicting a clay figure of the Jomon era, known as dogu, allows us to feel the quiet dialogue between the hearts of the ancient people and that of the present day.
I hope this exhibition will offer you an opportunity to feel “a happiness to return to”, which lay at the bottom of hearts.
Mizoe Art Gallery, Kazunobu Abe

Kenpei Yunde
1970 Born in Osaka prefecture.
1996 M.F.A from Osaka University of Arts.
Awarded the Honorable Mention Prize (1993, ’96, ’98), and the New Talent Prize (1995) at the Issuikai Exhibition, the Nichido Art Foundation Prize (1997), the Sompo Japan Fine Art Prize (2009) and the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts (2013).
Currently a committee member of Issuikai and Kensuikai, a member of Japan Artists Association and Nara Prefectural Artists Association.

Location: FUKUOKA; 1-2-5 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0065
Dates: 2025/04/05-2025/04/20
Opening hours: 10:00am-6:00pm
Closed days: on Thursdays. Open every day during the exhibition period.