記事 | Sayoko Suwabe

Press release

Press Release

“Uncertain Contours of Images”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sayoko Suwabe

Phone: 0487 222 196

Email: sayokosuwabes@gmail.com

Performance in BigCi, NSW, Australia, 2023

Melbourne, Australia - Japanese visual artist Sayoko Suwabe announces her upcoming solo exhibition, "Uncertain Contours of Images," at SOL Gallery in Melbourne, from Wednesday 21st February, with a special performance by the artist on the -

Opening night and Performance -

Thursday 22nd February, 6.00 - 8.30 pm at SOL Gallery,

420 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Performance begins at 7.00pm.

Exhibition dates: Wed February 21st to Sun, March 3rd

Gallery opening times: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Proudly supported by the Pola Art Foundation, Nomura Art Foundation

"Uncertain Contours of Images" challenges perceptions of what ‘traditional’ visual art is, particularly in regards to its boundaries and limitations, which often go against its consistent desire for accuracy, permanence and immortality. Suwabe’s exhibition challenges these notions by viewing and presenting versions of ‘traditional’ art through the eyes of a digital native artist. In this way, Suwabe’s work invites the viewer to see paintings not as static entities, but instead as dynamic products of image processing and interpretation, evolving with emotions, ideas, and memories, creating a dialogue between the artist, the medium and the viewer. Her art also addresses the relationship between the artist and their self-image, questioning the ability of traditional art, especially portraits as statements of social status or posterity, of capturing a personality in a static image, instead suggesting that art should be changeable, ephemeral and liquid. Her exhibition delves into the interplay between materiality and immateriality in paintings, sculptures and images, juxtaposing their physical existence with digital forms.

The Image No Longer Exists ⅰ, Watercolor on canvas, 914 x 1219mm, 2023

The exhibition consists of her self-portraits and painting-washing performances, as well as her body sculptures that dissolve in the water, along with the project documentation. The quiet, ephemeral movement that takes place in the gallery immerses viewers in a contemplation of art's fluidity within consciousness, blurring the lines between the past, present, and future. These works were created during Suwabe's residency program at Bundanon and BigCi (Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiatives) in NSW in 2023.

Supported by the Pola Art Foundation and the Nomura Art Foundation, this exhibition seeks to challenge preconceived notions of what art is, and encourage active engagement, fostering a deeper appreciation for the transient and ever-evolving nature of paintings in an increasingly digital world.

Further Information

"The series of my work has focused on themes such as identity, cross-cultural communication, and anthropology, and I seek to continue exploring these topics in “Uncertain Contours of Images”. Through a series of painting-washing performances, I aim to create a space where each individual can reflect on their perception of their contours and their impact on our world. I want to talk about the very last thin layer of what we believe to be painting."

- Sayoko Suwabe.

For more information, please visit: https://solgallery.com.au/events/sayoko-suwabe

We acknowledge Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognize the continuing connection to lands, waters, and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to elders past and present.