VENUES

Ota Fine Arts was established in 1994 in Ebisu, Tokyo. Since then, the gallery has promoted various Japanese artists, including internationally acclaimed Yayoi Kusama, and has grown to include a variety of talented and unique artists working with different mediums, ranging from painting to video art, installation, and crafts. While Ota Fine Arts continues to support its represented artists, it also strives to provide opportunities for up-and-coming talents.

Ota Fine Arts opened a new space in Singapore in 2012 and an additional location in Shanghai in 2017. To incorporate more regional character, originality, and commonality of the Asian cultural belt into the programs, the gallery has had exhibitions with artists from various Asian countries including Singapore, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Ota Fine Arts strongly hopes these programs will convey a new aspect of contemporary art today.

On the occasion of Tokyo Art Week 2021, Ota Fine Arts will present Singaporean artist Hilmi Johandi’s first solo exhibition in Tokyo. Looking closely at Singapore’s modern history, Johandi references archival materials such as films, photographs, and postcards from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. In his recent series of paintings, “Landscapes and Paradise (Poolscapes),” motifs such as refreshing blue pools and tropical greenery give one the impression of an island paradise that makes Singapore an attractive tourist destination. Upon closer observation, however, one will notice that the figure, plants, and walls appear to be stage props. This idea of an artificial façade leads one to question whether the scene portrayed is an imaginary one, and the extent of truth or accuracy in our written history.