[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Gallery Hana Shimokitazawa
- Address: 〒155-0031 Tokyo-to, Setagaya-ku, Kitazawa, 3 Chome−26−2 ~1F
- CEO: Yukinori Motoya
[/vc_column_text][rs_space height=”25px”][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title=”Describe your space; what they look like, feel like to walk around in, smell like, the history of the locations, how all of this affects the installations? etc.” tab_id=”1457146316356-e1a9edd4-a434fce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Yukinori Motoya (Y): Gallery Hana is located in Shimokitazawa,Tokyo where there is a strong town of subculture. There are many small theaters and live houses in the area where the youth, artists, and musicians visit.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Tell us about how Gallery Hana Shimokitazawa got started.” tab_id=”1457146316625-1fcb1635-f669fce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: I was thinking that the gallery would fit well within the culture of Shimokitazawa, as there is a great interest in the arts in the area. After I decided that, I looked for and found a good property in Shimokitazawa, and I began the Gallery Hana.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What sets your gallery apart from others and makes it successful?” tab_id=”1457146578618-d23796b2-3f37fce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: We have a popular shop on the ground floor, which is very different from many other galleries. There, any artists – from art students to full-time artists with special techniques – can display their works of art.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”If you could only use three adjectives to describe your gallery, what would they be?” tab_id=”1457147458387-3c0ff8a8-eeecfce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: The three words that I would use to describe my gallery are: skillful, possibility, and diversity. With our popular gallery open to artists of any kind, we allow skill levels of every kind to be displayed on our walls. The possibilities are endless with the artists of every background who display in our gallery.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”If you could change one thing about your gallery, what would it be?” tab_id=”1457147590674-08d1c6d1-bc66fce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: The next improvement I would make is to increase our space, either by making another exhibition room or space. This can allow us to display even more art than we already do, and foster a community of artists who support each other in their passions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Is there any consistent message, regardless of different shows, that you want your gallery to deliver to visitors?” tab_id=”1457147641518-bd8663a4-c86dfce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: Art is not just something to look at every once in a while. It is something to appreciate and review time and time again, each time looking for new ways it inspires and guides you. The art in our gallery is for sale, and I would like to let every visitor know the pleasure of collecting artworks, both for their aesthetic quality and their inspirational power.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How would you describe Tokyo, as an art/gallery city, compared to other major cities in Asia?” tab_id=”1457147643525-741f3fde-4545fce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: In Tokyo, there are all kind of exhibitions from all over the world in the various museums and galleries. Even modern artists produce traditional or subculture-effected arts, making the art scene of Tokyo like a potpourri of differing masterpieces.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Please name one misunderstanding or misperception regarding galleries and artists.” tab_id=”1457147983291-ff01adf1-aa0cfce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: I think both gallerists and artists are not special jobs. People often believe that being an artist or a gallerist is something very special or distinct, like it is reserved only for a special few. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, and our gallery shows it. We have such a diverse group of artists from all walks of life, showing that anybody can be an artist or a gallerist.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Who is your all-time favorite artist and why? If not all-time favorite, your current favorite?” tab_id=”1457148085149-f7868f8c-c3b3fce9-f293ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: It is difficult to name just one person who rises above all the other wonderful artists that I have appreciated over the years. In recent years, the solo exhibition of Mr. Tomio Gokida was very good. [/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What has been the most provocative decision you have made in your work as a gallerist?” tab_id=”1457150850596-0ae9b69b-4f43ece5-78c538a1-2f14e723-05a9cd90-bdf3bc4d-b32fbfdd-df94″][vc_column_text]Y: Initially Gallery HANA operated as a rental gallery, so the first feature exhibition was a major turning point. As a rental gallery, the space was open to anybody to rent the space and display their art. However, the first solo exhibition was by Takenori Fukaumi, and I still back up this move.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What do you look for when acquiring new artwork and/or artists?” tab_id=”1532402833576-be617c98-ff3b”][vc_column_text]Y: Artists should have an original view of the world and their own original technique. Art itself is not stagnant or flat but instead dynamic and ever-changing; thus, artists should be the same way. Each artist has a new way of representing the themes that are important to them, and that should be celebrated.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What is your advice to young artists starting their careers?” tab_id=”1532402946890-6607457b-f544″][vc_column_text]Y: I think that preparation is necessary to make art a lifelong job. This may be true of any career choice, but it is especially true in art. It requires a great deal of planning to work out and eventually create a piece of art. It can be a difficult and tedious task to go through this, which is why enjoying art as work is also very important. If you don’t enjoy it, then you won’t be motivated to prepare, and you won’t get anything done. With perseverance and the right attitude, art becomes masterpiece.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What’s your perspective regarding artists with a formal art education and the ones without?” tab_id=”1532403067479-8b165c18-19a1″][vc_column_text]Y: Art students get art education in order to get technical skills and knowledge. These basic skills can permit them to engage in a wider variety of types of art and technique that many artists without formal training may not be able to do. However, if these students focus too closely on the techniques they learn in class, it is possible for them to fall into a lack of individuality. An artist without the foundation of art education often builds his/her own original style successfully because they have their own freedom and vision to create whatever appeals to them whereas the student may have trouble breaking away from the mold.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”How do you think art galleries will evolve over the next few years?” tab_id=”1532403166602-c02c51c0-7e02″][vc_column_text]Y: In the future, I think the market will expand to new frontiers, places where art has never been presented before. This includes the Internet, where gallery spaces can be created on websites, and at the same time, beyond the category of physical art galleries, there are likely to be new types of intermediaries, as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][rs_gallery column=”3″ images=”5902,5903,5904,5905,5906,5907,5908,5909,5910,5911,5912,5913,5901″][vc_column_text]
- Photos courtesy of Gallery Hana Shimokitazawa
- Special Thanks to Hiroaki Tanaka
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