Naritaka SATOH Solo Show: Incoherence between surface、truthfulness and reality

Naritaka SATOH Solo Show- Incoherence between surface、truthfulness and reality

2019, October 5 – 2019, December 29

Simply speaking, he is especially skilled in using pencils and charcoal. To achieve a come-alive and realistic touch, he first uses thin strokes to accurately make out the figure. He then uses the combination of it with acrylic paint to express its abstract components by repeatedly and generously applying colors to the piece. Due to the strong contrast that forms, audiences may feel a sense of incoherence at first glance. However, as you study and look past the surface, you may, in fact, find that the chaos work in harmony, almost as if they were arranged in an orderly manner on the canvas.

This was how Satoh felt regarding “realism”:
“Growing up, I have never been exposed to comics, movies, cartoons, etc., so I am unable to imagine what a fictional world is like. Everything can only be seen through the actual situation to be able to make reasonable judgments. Therefore, instead of using imagination when I make art, I’d much rather pursue the actuality.”

However, realism on its own cannot represent the accurate and complete truthfulness.

《Incoherence between surface, truthfulness, and reality》states that the “surface”, “reality” and “truth” are rather uncoordinated. However, between the seemingly irrelevant relationship between realism and abstract art, many inner or on-the-surface emotions seems to suggest a trail of logic. This series of work showcases how an artist attempts to reveal the duality of reality, of how some seemingly ordinary people with their rather common lives is, in fact, masking what really is underneath. People admire beautiful appearances as models may have, but at the same time, they enjoy prying into the ugly secrets of celebrities’ private lives. Humans carry the ability to conceal and hide their clutter of turmoil within themselves with an adapted mannerism and modified version of themselves. The confrontation between the two is the transition of humanity, where the artist is able to capture this instant impact in life, in which the so-called “reality” takes place.

Naritaka Satoh

1980 Born in Aichi
2006 Tokyo Art University, B.A.Design Arts
2008 Tokyo Art University, M.A.Design Arts

Naritaka Satoh, born in 1980 in Japan, has a Bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Design Arts from Tokyo University of the Arts. Naritaka Satoh is skilled in using pencils and acrylic, developing a unique practice on his “dualistic painting”. He won the Grand Prix prize from the 8th SICF.

Selected Works