Takeshi Sato a.k.a. GOSPEL SOLO EXHIBITION "Flavor" Exhibition: 5/19/10 (Wed) - 5/23/10 (Sun) 12pm-6pm (Wed, Sat, Sun: Appointment by Email Only) at . Ouchi Gallery 170 Tillary St. Suite 507 Brooklyn, NY 11201 Email: info@ouchigallery.com 幼い頃から絵や漫画に興味を持ち、絵を描き続けられる環境を求め1990年単身東京へ、1992年 ヒップホップ・カルチャーとGRAFFITIに強い衝撃を受ける、独学で様々な技術を学びつつ自分にあった表現を探し続け、自分の居場所を確立してきた。アクリル、エアブラシ、スプレーと、ありとあらゆる手法を使い描かれる暖かみのあるキャラクターは、ジャンルを問わず多くの人々に支持を受け、多様な発展を遂げた日本のヒップホップ・カルチャーの中で、流行、廃りに踊らされる事無く、独自のカラーを打ち出し続けている。 ヒップホップに限らず、「それっぽい」ものが当たり前になったいまだからこそ原点を忘れないその姿勢はライブペイントなどはもちろんアパレル、CDアートワーク、誌面デザインなど、その活動はメジャーからアンダーグラウンドまで幅広く多彩な方面で支持されている。 I got interested in arts and comics in my childhood. I moved to Tokyo in 1990 to seek an environment where I can continue painting. Then, in 1992 I got a deep impact from HipHop culture and Graffiti. I have been learning various techniques by myself and searching my own style of expression, and have made room for myself in. Warm characters paint with many kinds of methods such as acrylic, air-brush, sprays …etc, have gained favour with many people. I keep on expressing my own “color” without being swayed by prevailing trend in well-developed Japanese HipHop culture. My arts do not lose the original point while “things which look like that” are everywhere not only about HipHop these days. My artistic activities are supported in various ways such as apparel, CD artworks, magazine designs both in major and in underground culture. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ His arts have a great impact from Black American culture (lifestyle, music) in 90s, mixed with Graffiti elements. He has developed his own artistic style and it never fades in 2010. His arts have absorbed the brilliance of Black American culture in Japan, in the corner of Asia, far away from the US. It has grown to be more stimulating, mixed with his unique and very Japanese sensitivity. He will keep on creating great arts and bringing the greatness of Black American culture to Japan. ■"LOOTone" / Graffiti Artist(Japan) HomePage http://www.lootone.com ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Everyone knows his characters and they cut a brilliant figure and have a big impact on Japanese HipHop scene. Inspired by Black music, he uses every painting tool such as sprays, airbrush, ink brush, marker pens and pen tablets. The characters apparently look pop, but their eyes always look hungry and nihilistic. His painting have “energy which makes people go up from the base of society” and “toughness which allows leeway and makes people enjoy in any situations”. As we can see from his artist name , “GOSPEL”, his “salvation” and “encouragement” are put in his arts. ■ikko.torcida / Artist(Japan) HomePage http://ikko.info ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++