Note
Notes: Text of wall legend (written by Melissa Abernathy; originally appeared in expanded form in the Museum's newsletter) from an exhibition where this work was first shown: Works in Cut Paper by Hiro Takeshita. Simple Beauty: Views of Hoboken.Exhibition at Hoboken Historical Museum, Upper Gallery, 1301 Hudson St., Hoboken, April 18 - May 31, 2009.
HIRO TAKESHITA creates art that appears to be graceful paintings of the local cityscape in saturated colors and delicate lines. But step closer and look at the junction of two colors and you will find the true medium: layers of cut paper in different colors.
The art form is known as kirgami, or kiri-e in his native Japan, and although Takeshita studied art and printmaking in Tokyo in the 1970s, he came to the cut-paper medium only about 20 years ago. He was influenced strongly by his admiration for the French modern master Henri Matisse, who experimented with the technique late in his career. Similarly, Takeshita spent most of his art career working in oil paints, pastels, watercolors, and print-making.
Takeshita was born in Nagasaki, Japan, and from an early age was interested in art and American culture. While living in Tokyo, he saw an exhibit of 1960s American pop artists and felt drawn to their work. He moved to Los Angeles in 1977, participated in this first group show in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the following year and soon after it moved to the New York area.
In 2006, he brought his work home to Japan with an exhibit entitled “Nagasaki: Beautiful City, Lovely People,” in which his cut-paper work also appeared on streetcars. Samuel Sachs II, Director Emeritus of The Frick Collection, said of the exhibit: “Nagasaki native Hiro Takeshita ...has created a handsome body of cut-paper work and drawn inspiration from many artists to create his own, unique blend of a keen Japanese sensibility with a visual acuity drawn from a life in the West. His artist’s eye sees an ever-hopeful view of a color-filled work where line and space create a multi-dimensional reality.”
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2009-06-02
