02: OGINO Ryosuke 2000.3.3 [Fri] - 2000.5.14 [Sun] This exhibition, the second in the series, features paintings by the artist Ogino Ryosuke. The characteristic atmosphere of unease permeating the oeuvre of this artist can be seen in works taking the form of light, subtly-modulated color-fields -- a typical example being "w297 x h612 x d26" (Plate 1) -- and also in works comprised of juxtaposed images of chairs, nails, bats, bones and other objects, depicted with such graphic hyper-realism that they seem to have been cut out of a picture-book, against a colored background painted with striking evenness, such as "w805 x h1310 x d39" (Plate 2).

Plate1: "w297x h612x d26" acrylic on canvas 61.2*29.7*2.6cm 1998 Plate2: "w805x h1310x d39" acrylic on canvas 131.0*80.5*3.9cm 1999

In both cases, the position and shape of the depicted images is in perfect concordance with the proportions of the hand-prepared canvas supporting them, producing an exquisite sense of balance and tension. Ogino paints figurative images and abstract structures in parallel, making no distinction between the two. The fact that he also applies paint to the sides of the canvas, and that many of his works are titled in three dimensions - including a "depth" dimension as well as width and height, hints that their two-dimensional appearance is an illusion, while they truly exist in a three-dimensional form.

Plate3: "untitled" oil on canvas 34.0*27.3*2.5cm 2000

This feature, common to all Ogino's work, seems to point towards a transcendence of the invisible boundaries between the picture's subject and its subordinate features, between the foreground and the background, between figurative and abstract painting, between two-dimensional and three-dimensional art. The quality of freedom in Ogino's paintings never overstates their sense of tension, and yet remains always subtly discernible. Rather than alienating itself from the chronological evolutionary flow of art, Ogino's style hints at a new approach, breathing fresh air into the contemporary era. This lightness of touch may be due to the fact that, instead of searching blindly for some ultimate, pre-ordained goal, his work is breezily at ease with itself.

Photo by SAITO Arata

OGINO Ryosuke 1970 Born in Saitama, Japan 1993 Graduated from Department of Political Science, School of Political Science and Economics at Meiji University 1998 Graduated from B seminar schooling system Lives in Saitama Selected Exhibitions 1997 "Echinococcus," Kumin Gallery, Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo "The 30th B-semi Exhibition," Yokohama Civic Art Gallery, Kanagawa 1998 "The 31st B-semi Exhibition," Yokohama Civic Art Gallery, Kanagawa "Art Sphere Haizuka '98(homestay: artworks in residence)," Haizuka Earthworks Projects, Hiroshima Solo exhibition, Gotoh Museum of Art, Chiba 1999 "DOUBLE POSITIVE, "Studio Shokudo, Tokyo (written Interview available) Solo exhibition, T&S, Tokyo (comment available) "Art Sphere Haizuka '99'(homestay: artworks in residence)," Haizuka Earthworks Projects, Hiroshima "Minimalism / Neo Minimalism," Gallery TE, Tokyo

Information Dates: Friday 3 March, 2000 - Sunday 14 May, 2000 Opening Hours: 12:00 - 20:00 (to 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, entry up to 30 minutes before closing) Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if the Monday is a public holiday), year-end/new year, General closing days (twice a year) Admission: Ordinary:300 yen (200 yen), College and high school students: 200 yen (100yen), Junior high and elementary school students: 100 yen (50 yen), Children below school age: free *Amounts in brackets ( ) are rates for groups 15 or more. Organizered by the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation and Asahi Shimbun Sponsored by Nippon Life Insurance Company / NTT Urban Development Co. / Odakyu Department Store Co.,ltd. For further information: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery Tel. +81-3-5353-0756