HIROKO KOSHINO

“Hiroko Koshino　The Portrait” is going to be hosted at KH Gallery Ginza.
Koshino has a long history as a fashion designer, and she has painted many fashion drawings. In her fashion drawings that focus on Western-style clothing, you will see human subjects who fulfill the role of a model. Also, these subjects who are expressed as oil paintings are stronger than subjects painted in other motifs used in the past, and they emit the presence of being the main attraction of the piece. In a situation in which a vividly colored young girl plays with animals in front of a black background, a sense of extemporaneity and free creativity are expressed in deep colors, and this painting is reminiscent of the dreams Koshino had when she was a young child. In another piece, the silhouetted subjects with a humorous appearance lying next to a body of water make you think of summer, and a characteristic of her portraits are works that have the feeling of a “story”, such as by her expressing the results of scene development by juxtaposing two images of the same type. Twelve pieces, starting with these unreleased oil masterpieces and including images of women painted on various large and small canvases and also new oil paintings of models wearing clothing from the Hiroko Koshino collection, are going to be displayed at this exhibit. Also, a new series of popular paintings by Koshino remade in a giclee* format is going to be introduced at this exhibit. Enjoy Koshino’s enthusiastic sentiments toward her subjects and this vigorous and spectacular exhibit.
 
*About giclee
Giclee, also known as digital lithography, is a printing method that employs the latest in computer technology. An image of the original work is converted into a digital format, and ink is sprayed directly onto a piece of paper or canvas without using a screen. These are high-quality prints with beautiful coloring and vivid expression.

Monday, July 3 – Thursday, August 31, 2017
10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Gallery closed on the Sundays of July 9, 16, 23 and August 6.
Gallery closed for summer holiday from Friday, August 11 to Sunday, August 20.

《WORK #1646》

《WORK #1541》

“NIKKO × Hiroko Koshino Sumi no Toki –The Hospitality of Hiroko Koshino–” will be hosted at KH Gallery Ginza.
NIKKO COMPANY, a manufacturer of Western-style dinnerware, and Koshino first met 30 years ago. Since then, these two have worked together to bring modern dinnerware to the world. The “Sumi no Toki” series that is being presented here is designed based on the various expressions of ink paintings done by Koshino. For Koshino, the sensibility of ink is a crystallization of the beauty of Japan. With the meeting of Western-style dinnerware and pure white fine bone china that NIKKO proudly makes in Japan, the beauty of the West and of Japan were brilliantly fused together. A profound world of black and white is expressed within the blank spaces of this dinnerware. At this exhibit, this series which has received high acclaim at exhibitions held outside of Japan will be shown alongside table settings for the first time in Japan at the KH Gallery. At the same time, the original works and a new series of ink paintings done by Koshino will be exhibited. The existence of art in everyday life is what Koshino considers to be the highest quality of hospitality.
Also, looking back at the history of the close friendship between these two, a memorial exhibit of “Ai Gasane”, Koshino-designed dinnerware welcoming the 30-year anniversary since it was first released for sale will be displayed. In a display full of a sense of playfulness, you can see best-selling Japanese-style and Western-style dinnerware that has a flowery motif.
 
These fine works of art that are close to our lives and that can be cherished for a long time are born from the sincerity of NIKKO and Koshino and from their long relationship. Please enjoy the aesthetics of sophisticated furnishings and hospitality.

Monday, May 15 – Sunday, June 25, 2017　10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Gallery closed on the Sundays of May 21, June 4, and 18.

For the year of 2017, KH Gallery Ashiya will present visitors with various comparisons in the context of Koshino’s creative works, under the theme of “Contrast.”.
An artist always seeking for different ways of expression instead of remaining still at one place, Koshino has reflected her seemingly conflicting views and values to numerous masterpieces. One time, she may depict a tranquil world of elegance and simplicity with sumi-ink. Another time, she may use vivid colors to evoke emotions. It is as though the biorhythms of life are embodied by the myriads of artworks that oscillate between Stillness and Motion. The exhibition will also seek to illustrate the contrast between Fashion and Art for the first time in KH Gallery Ashiya. Through their encounter with art, news lives will be breathed into garments that have been incorporated into the installation. The beauty of artworks enclosed in a planar dimension and the beauty of lightweight and elegant garments, both embraced within the beauty of the solemn architecture designed by Tadao Ando. This year, we invite you to enhance the dynamic transition from the landscape of spring to summer with the beautiful contrasts brought about by the clash and synthesis of these outstandingly unique elements of beauty.

Reservation required. Please reserve by accessing the ASHIYA GALLERY page of KH Gallery website and submitting the Admission Reservation Form with all the necessary fields completed.
Reservation is not required on Sundays.

Saturday, April 1 – Sunday, September 17　11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Gallery closed on Wednesdays
Summer Closing: Friday (national holiday), August 11 – Sunday, August 20

http://www.kh-gallery.com/

"The Leader" is a TV progrram broadcasted on Mainichi Broadcasting System, introducing business leaders such as widely known presidents of large companies and heads of small but unique enterprises.
This week's coverage will feature Hiroko Koshino the fashion designer, who just turned 80 and is still in active in the front lines of fashion industry. Koshino talks about her childhood dream of becoming a painter, her motive for jumping into the fashion business, and joyousness she experienced from her global debut. Please don’t forget to tune in and enjoy!

Title :  “The Leader”

Date : Sunday, March 12th, 2017, 5:00am-5:30am

Station : Mainichi Broadcasting (Limited in Osaka Pre., Kyoto Pre., Hyogo Pre., Nara Pre., Shiga Pre., Wakayama Pre.)
    　  ※You can enjoy the program via internet after the broadcasting. (http://www.mbs.jp/leader/)

KH Gallery Ginza will be hosting "Kuniyoshi Kaneko X Hiroko Koshino EROS 2017."
One year after the Kuniyoshi Kaneko Retrospective Exhibition, the two artists join hands once again to bring you a dense world or paintings created under the theme of EROS. Kuniyoshi Kaneko pursued refined eroticism through his unique portrait paintings. Men and women who appear on Kaneko's paintings create an unapproachable Sacred World while also showing unbridled lust. The contrast draws out the nobleness and powerful force of life of a human being who waver between two extremes. Hiroko Koshino, on the other hand, produced oil paintings themed under the relationship of men and women. Her encounter with Shunga, or Japanese erotic art from the Edo era had left her with a powerful impression. This time, she focuses on the beautiful bodily shapes of people engaging in the act of love that is vividly drawn out in Shunga artworks, and transforms them into stylish EROS. It almost seems as though joy and desire seep out from the expressions of human figures drawn with oil bars. The oil paintings inspired from Shunga are also in line with Koshino's all-time theme, the fusion of Japanese and Western beauty.
 
In this exhibition, stately oil portraits and drawings which are the essence of Kaneko's EROS will line the walls, while personal items will be displayed to reproduce the artist's room to give visitors a sense of secret happiness as if one is peeking inside someone's private room. Koshino will unveil the latest results of her exploration, which consist of oil portraits depicting Shunga motif paintings drawn in a light touch, thickly textured powerful portraits, and other works depicting various men and women. Take this chance to be witness to the fusion of the EROS, the most luscious and most noble drama orchestrated by the two artists who cherish the natural instincts of life.

Thursday, March 16 – Sunday, May 7
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  *Closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21
Gallery closed on the Sundays of March 26, April 9, and 23

http://www.kh-gallery.com/

Kuniyoshi Kaneko 《voici l'aube. Le chant des coqs retentit》oil on canvas 1997

Hiroko Koshino 《WORK#1623》oil on canvas 2016