Kyoko Watanabe (JP)

Kyoko Watanabe (JP) 
Text written by GHA

The portraits presented on paper capture the fragility of their protagonists. The lack of contact with the viewer and the dark color tones emphasize a sense of distance and introverted, subdued atmosphere.

In her oil paintings, the artist depicts female figures without direct eye contact, as if deliberately avoiding the viewer; her gaze is directed elsewhere, lending her a certain mystique and creating a sense of absence. Using acrylic paint on paper, the artist creates thick layers of color that are structurally defined. However, she did not use a brush, as is often the practice, but instead experimented with working the surface with spartels, which lends the pictures depth and emphasizes the emotionality of her works.

Kyoko Watanabe (JP)

Watanabe captures an emotional state, a femininity that most women can identify with, a kind of shyness and sadness, seemingly trying to hide her true self.
The paintings engenders a sense of perspective, as if the viewer is granted an intimate insight into the sitter’s personal space. The dark colors dominate her compositions but are carefully accented with the lighter hues, creating a visual balance. The juxtaposition of these color elements softens the otherwise somber tone of the motif. Watanabe’s works reveal a subtle expression of melancholy without a sense of despair. This evokes a fundamental curiosity about the reasons for the despondency of the women depicted. The works exude a sense of density and heaviness due to the structural elements, the choice of colors, and the thematic content. At the same time, it also possesses a captivating quality that draws the viewer’s attention. The artist’s ability to capture the essence of sadness in such an engaging way is remarkable. The emotions depicted are universally relatable, conveying feelings of despair, alienation and loneliness but also characterized by an inherent desire for recognition of personal distress.

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