"#1" Kaoru Iwasaki, Hitomi Annaka February 2009, 2 - February 23, 2009

The exhibition "#1" will be held.
Venue: Art Gallery T+
Date: December 2009, 2 - January 23, 2009
Exhibitors: Kaoru Iwasaki (2nd year Western Painting major), Hitomi Annaka (2nd year Western Painting major)

This exhibition features works that represent the growth process of these two polar opposites, who were encouraged by their professor to learn from each other, as they studied each other's paintings in order to acquire what they lacked in themselves.
The works are composed with a greater awareness of the exploration and challenge that is at the heart of creative activity, and attempt a variety of styles.

T+review

When you open the door to the gallery, you are greeted by the unique smell of oil paints, which makes you feel like you've entered a slightly old, barn at home. The exhibition "#2" by Kaoru Iwasaki and Hitomi Annaka, second-year students of Western painting, was held from February 23rd (Mon) to February 2th (Thu), and was a two-person exhibition of oil paintings.
There were two types of cute bookmarks next to the door. Apparently these were also used as direct mail. Moreover, when you put two together, they form a single picture. Of course, I got both types.
Looking at the walls, works of various sizes are hung and arranged, from large ones that catch the eye to small ones that can be displayed in a room. Just by looking around the gallery, it is impossible to tell whether a work is by Iwasaki or Annaka. I'm sure it was a two-person exhibition, so I'm a little confused. Colorful works, works that seem to have few colors, landscapes, portraits, linear works, curved works, works with compositional elements, etc. Not only the size but also the contents of the paintings are really diverse. It even feels like they are all painted by different people. ``This exhibition is a work that represents the growth process of two polar opposites who were told by their professor to learn from each other, and who looked at each other's paintings to acquire what they lacked. It is composed of works that are more conscious of the exploration and challenge that is the essence of creative activity, and they are trying various styles. '' This is what the exhibition summary says, and it is exactly right. Although this is a review, I quoted the words of the exhibitor, but the enthusiasm of the two artists to try various things is conveyed from the works.
　Looking closely at each piece, I can somehow see the characteristics of both artists in their seemingly disparate works. In Iwasaki's work, I can see an image of a somewhat surreal child's play, and in Annaka's work, I can see an image of a warm serenity, like being in a Millet painting. Although this is a very subjective image, it is just my own.
　It was my first time to see so many different styles in a two-person exhibition, and it was a very refreshing experience. I think they created a space that only someone who is still growing and wants to try new things can create. It made me want to see more styles, and at the same time, it made me want to know what kind of paintings the two will ultimately be creating. It was an exhibition that really made me curious about what the future holds.
(Nagisa Fujita)