Nagai Kenji (長井研治) Exhibition at Gallery Kobo (巷房)

This exhibition consists of large drawings similar to the one on this promotional postcard:

長井研治 - 巷房

"Large" is important, as the effect of Nagai Kenji's art is not conveyed properly in such a small image.

The exhibit is a two-part one, with half of it on the 3rd floor and half in the basement - both Gallery Kobo (http://www.spinn-aker.co.jp/kobo.htm) spaces.

While I was contemplating this exhibit in the basement, the artist was being questioned by a group of women.  One of them asked about how he did the background (what looks like a solid beige tone in the scanned promotional card above, but contains clear brush-strokes in the original).  He explained about that, and then he was asked which he painted first - the background, or the central part.

He responded "doji-ni" (simultaneously), which produced vocal protests on the part of the women and a silent protest on my part.  I thought "That can't be possible unless you're painting with your left and right hands simultaneously...".  Actually, I got the strong impression that the artist simply didn't wish to answer that question, so he gave a non-answer.  I left as the discussion continued to go in circles, with the women prodding, and him saying "doji-ni" again.

Anyway!  However he makes his art, the effect - in its original large format - is interesting.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/