Press Release by Gallery G-77

press release

Stephan Spicher: Blossom September 27–October 25, 2014 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! !Exhibition Location: HAKUSASONSO Hashimoto Kansetsu Garden & Museum Kyoto Sakyo-ku Jodoji Ishibashicho 37, Kyoto, Japan 606-8406 Press Preview (artist will participate): September 26, 13:00 - 14:30

!! The first exhibition at the New Museum Building of Hashimoto Kansetsu Garden & Museum in

Kyoto will be devoted to Swiss artist Stephan Spicher (born in 1950 and based in Basel). Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, and sponsored by Credit Suisse, the exhibition features thirty works from the series “Blossom”. The selection highlights major works of the artist since 2000, including new series not yet presented in public.!

!The conceptual framework of Spicher’s art is the so-called “spiritual minimalism”. His creative work is the result of 40 years of experimentation with shape and colour based on passion, integrity and the legacy of European art. At the same time it has intangible links to Eastern sensitivity, which the artist discovered during his long trips to Asia. As the result, he has created a distinctive pictorial style and unique visual language endued with pure, beautiful lines and rhythmical alternation of tones and surfaces.

Spicher's works will be exhibited not only in the Museum's new building as well in the Tea Pavilion and Zonkoro (Hashimoto Kansetsu Studio), built at the beginning of the last century and surrounded by a traditional Japanese garden. The exhibition is constructed in such a way that visitors move not only from work to work, but also from space to space, in each of which they find themselves at the centre of a specially structured ensemble. For example, in the Zonkoro we see three huge abstract paintings on aluminium called After Monet. They do not undermine the integrity 1

press release

of place. On the contrary, they create a kind of astringent sensuality between the surrounding architecture and the pond as seen through the windows of the Taisho period studio. Every space generates a new set of interrelationship between the artist’s works, nature and the architectural context. This narrative even extends to the surroundings of the famous “Daimonji” and “Ginkakuji”. In this atmosphere the feeling for art augments the feeling for space, and the feeling for space is enhanced by the feeling for art.

!The exhibition invites the viewer to experience the dynamic and challenging world of an accom-

plished European artist through his ardent imagination, cultural diversity and innovative experimentation with artistic techniques and materials, such as lacquer on aluminium and canvas. This exhibition is an interesting emotional challenge not just for specialists, who may appreciate the artist's inventiveness, but also for the general public, who may learn and understand more about the world of contemporary painting and experience the “paradigmatic” notions of tradition and innovation in relation to art. The exhibition is also a superb illustration of how artistic collaboration between Japan and Switzerland may be mutually enriching.

Credits and Publication

Patronage is provided by the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan The exhibition and catalogue are sponsored by Credit Suisse The exhibition is curated by Andrei Mikhailov, Gallery G-77 Director

! The exhibition will be featured on: !Museum’s website at http://www.hakusasonso.jp Gallery G-77 website at http:// www.g77gallery.com !Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blossomkyoto !! Contacts: Andrei Mikhailov !exhibition curator tel. +81 90 9419-2326 g77gallery@gmail.com

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