Casa BRUTUS “A Roundup of Japanese Contemporary Art,” June 2020 Issue
I picked up the June 2020 issue of Casa BRUTUS with its feature “A Roundup of Japanese Contemporary Art.”
Among the art collectors profiled in the issue, I want to focus on Kashiyuka (Yuka Kashino), a member of the technopop unit Perfume.
Kashiyuka (Perfume), also known as an art collector
Kashiyuka is a well-known celebrity who is also recognized as an art collector — she’s been spotted at galleries, and her name has come up more than once among the collectors around me.
Her appearance in Casa BRUTUS’s “A Roundup of Japanese Contemporary Art” feature seems to tie in with her ongoing serial in the same magazine, “Kashiyuka’s Shop of Japanese Arts and Crafts.”
In that serial, Kashiyuka herself takes on the role of shop owner and buyer, sourcing works she likes each issue — a virtual shop that brings together the “essence” of traditional crafts from across Japan.
“Kashiyuka’s Shop of Japanese Arts and Crafts” from Casa BRUTUS June 2020 issueThe serial is archived on the official Casa BRUTUS site, and an English version is also available.
Kashiyuka the Art Collector
Kashiyuka’s collection is introduced across four full pages of Casa BRUTUS, with photographs of seven works by three artists. Here’s a look at each.
Taiji Matsue
Photographer Taiji Matsue (TARO NASU) is known for winning the Ihei Kimura Photography Award.
Four works by Taiji Matsue in Kashiyuka’s collection are featured. The first two are from the ≪LIM≫ series, shot in cities around the world — a head-on view of a vivid cemetery in Lima, Peru, and a cemetery in St Andrews, Scotland.
Taiji Matsue’s works are shown across a four-page spread
The two works on the left-hand page are from the ≪JP≫ series, aerial images that carve out Japan’s terrain, and ≪gazetteer≫, which takes place names around the world as its titles. One hallmark of Matsue’s work is that every element in the frame is in focus.
By coincidence, one of the works featured here is exactly the same as a piece in the collection of artist Kohei Yamada, whom I profiled earlier in the “Collector Visit” series — a surprise for me.
Maiko Haruki
The two works by photographer Maiko Haruki are large-format pieces (56.5×108cm) shown at her 2017 solo exhibition at the Roppongi gallery TARO NASU.
Right: Maiko Haruki; Left: Yusuke Komuta
Yusuke Komuta
Yusuke Komuta (SCAI THE BATHHOUSE) is known for his painting series based on unfolded development diagrams of origami planes and cranes, but the piece Kashiyuka collected, ≪Plane_Soleil≫, is a commissioned work on mirror-finish stainless steel.
Its motif is an origami plane, built in three dimensions, then unfolded flat as a development diagram. The piece feels connected to the worldview Perfume creates — a striking match.
Wrap-up
“I like art that blends into everyday scenery,” Kashiyuka says.
Every piece is chosen with her own clear eye — impressive. What’s more, the works featured here share something in common: all are by accomplished Japanese artists, all purchased through primary galleries.
There might well be a moment where you cross paths with her at some gallery.
Yusuke Komuta씨(SCAI THE BATHHOUSE)는, 종이접기로 만든 비행기나 학 등의 전개도를 바탕으로 그리는 회화 시리즈로 알려져 있지만, Kashiyuka씨가 소장한 작품 ≪Plane_Soleil≫은, 경면 스테인리스를 지지체로 삼은 커미션 작품(주문 제작)입니다.
종이접기로 입체 비행기를 만들고, 한 번 펼쳐 평면으로 만든 전개도를 모티프로 한 작품입니다. Perfume이 창조하는 세계관과 통하는 듯한 작품이 인상적입니다.
정리
「생활의 풍경에 녹아드는 아트가 좋다」고 말하는 Kashiyuka씨.
어느 작품이든 본인의 확실한 눈으로 판단해 컬렉션하고 계셔서 훌륭합니다. 또한, 이번에 소개된 작품들은, 실력 있는 일본인 아티스트를 프라이머리 갤러리에서 구입하고 있다는 점에서 공통됩니다.
어딘가 갤러리에서, 본인과 우연히 마주칠 타이밍이 있을 것 같기도 하네요.
