Daisuke Teshima: Gaze of the Unknown

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Karin Weber Gallery is delighted to present Japanese artist Daisuke Teshima’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. ‘Gaze of the Unknown’ combines his iconic wooden sculptures with a new series of pencil drawings.

In his 3D creations, Teshima skilfully blends the traditions of Japanese wood carving and Buddhist sculpture techniques with his razor-sharp observations of the people and encounters that shape our daily lives, conceiving figures that strike the perfect balance of the here and now with a strong sense of timelessness.

The notion of a ‘gaze’, or ‘Gaze of the Unknown’ also draws on Buddhist traditions, reflecting on the enigmatic wisdom and omnipotence of the divinity. Buddhism differentiates between two types of eyes, the inner (Dhamma or ‘third’ eye) and outer (the ‘material’ eyes), which view the world of wisdom and the world around us.

In his artistic practice, and the new works on show, Daisuke Teshima applies both gazes – immaculate, seamless craftsmanship in woodcarving and finishing, alongside his wise and witty portrayal of humanity in its many permutations.

His playful side comes to the fore in his pencil drawings, looser and more relaxed in their execution, yet imbued with the same lively sense of personality and humour that lends a special energy to his work. Focused on child-like subjects,Teshima’s drawings evoke a sense of innocence and curiosity. The simplicity of their composition adds to their visual impact, drawing the viewer’s attention to single or multiple central figures.

‘Gaze of the Unknown’ introduces a broader spectrum of work by an artist who, firmly rooted in his local traditions and an absolute master of his craft, is exploring new forms of expression and style.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Born in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1977, Daisuke Teshima holds a BA (2001) and an MA (2002) from Tokyo Zokei University, Japan. Core to his carved and coloured wooden sculptures are notions of human encounters and interactions in complex urban environments. Teshima has shown primarily in Japan, but also in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and France. He was an award winner in the 60th (2006) and 62nd (2008) Yamaguchi Art Exhibition, Yamaguchi Prefectural Art

Museum, Japan. Recent art fair presentations include Art Central and Fine Art Asia in Hong Kong, Art Fair Asia Fukuoka, Art Osaka and Tokyo Art Fair, Japan, and Asia Now in Paris, France. His works are in the Contemporary Art Foundation, Tokyo, Japan, and in private collections in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, France and China.