Kenichi Hoshine: The Magician and The Thief

On January 9, Hollis Taggart will open Kenichi Hoshine: The Magician and The Thief, a solo exhibition of the New York-based artist’s work. Inspired by a wide range of subjects—from film and television, to theatrical sets, to found imagery—Hoshine’s painting practice is grounded in the experiences of his daily life. Expressed in abstract forms and gestures, however, these everyday references are imbued with newfound emotion and narrative quality. For his upcoming exhibition at Hollis Taggart, Hoshine will present a selection of new paintings on wood panel that capture his converging fascinations with theater, poster design, and the occult.

Kenichi Hoshine: The Magician and The Thief will be on view through February 15, 2020 at the gallery’s flagship location at 521 W. 26th Street. The show will be accompanied by a catalogue that includes an essay by art historian and critic John Yau that examines Hoshine’s vision and formal approach. An opening reception will be held on January 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Hoshine’s paintings are compellingly elusive. Representational elements emerge within his bold, vividly colored compositions only to disappear into emotive tangles of brushstrokes, denying the viewer any narrative clarity. For Hoshine, the depth and openness of the visual experience are essential, saying, “I have always found images that are obscured or fragmented to be more interesting than ‘complete’ pictures.” In his early work, this fragmentation was driven by the use of an extensive cadre of materials. His paintings often incorporated acrylics, charcoal, tea, beeswax, and oils, giving his abstractions both aesthetic and physical depth.

With his most recent works, Hoshine has substantively pared down his materials, focusing predominantly on the qualities and possibilities of acrylic paint alone. Leveraging the speed with which the material dries, Hoshine actively layers and then scrapes away the paint on the panel surface—often numerous times in a single work. This results in a physical and active editing process that has become critical to his career-long exploration of notions of revelation and obscurity.

At the same time, the purposeful limitation of materials has infused a fresh spontaneity into Hoshine’s approach, yielding a wider range of gestural actions and effects. Together, his meticulous, at times obsessive, process and rich use of color result in paintings that draw the eye and inspire deep looking. With his upcoming exhibition, Hoshine continues his study of the relationships between representation and abstraction, nature and artifice, and the psychological experience of indoor and outdoor environments.

“When I first came across Kenichi’s work, I was immediately captivated by the vibrancy and intricacy of his compositions. I’ve been examining the development of his process and approach since that initial introduction and continue to be moved by his vision and the energy that his work exudes. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to share his work with our audiences and to support the development of a catalogue that shines a light on his practice,” said Hollis Taggart.

—

Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1977, Hoshine grew up in New Jersey and studied in New York, where he attended the School of Visual Arts. Hoshine’s work has been exhibited widely in the U.S. and abroad. In 2016, his paintings were exhibited as part of the Colección Solo at the Espacio Solo Gallery in Madrid, as well as the two-person exhibition Untouchable: Dérive de l’espirit at the Galerie Guido Romero in Paris. Most recently, his work has been presented in a group show at the Harpy Gallery in New Jersey; in collaboration with Pt. 2 Gallery at the Juxtapoz Clubhouse in Miami; and in the solo exhibition Amawalk in California. In addition to his studio practice, Hoshine has taught at the Pratt Institute in New York.

About Hollis Taggart
Founded in 1979, Hollis Taggart presents significant works of American art, showcasing the trajectory of American art movements from the Hudson River School to American Modernism and the Post-War and Contemporary eras. Its program is characterized by a deep commitment to scholarship and bringing to the fore the work of under-recognized artists. The gallery has sponsored several catalogue raisonné projects, most recently for the American Surrealist artist Kay Sage, and has been instrumental in advancing knowledge of such compelling artists as Alfred Maurer, Arthur B. Carles, and more recently, Theodoros Stamos, Marjorie Strider and Michael (Corinne) West. In the summer of 2019, the gallery announced the formal expansion of its primary market business and focus on the presentation of contemporary work, operating under Hollis Taggart Contemporary. The gallery’s flagship space is located on W. 26th Street and its contemporary division is based at secondary location on W. 25th Street. The gallery also has a private viewing and storage facility in the neighborhood. With 40 years of experience, Hollis Taggart is widely recognized by collectors and curators for its leadership, expertise, and openness, on matters of art history, and market trends and opportunities.

###

For more information, please contact:
Alina Sumajin
PAVE Communications & Consulting
[email protected] / 646-369-2050