Downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery is proud to ring in the New Year with a solo show from Japanese driftwood painter Chishi Morimura, entitled Aimai, set to premiere on Saturday, January 16 in Gallery 3. In celebration of Morimura’s new show, CHG will be hosting a virtual opening (details TBA).
Morimura’s art is recognizable for her peculiar paintings on driftwood, which she employs as canvases for her artistic compositions, along with the use of shell powder, cheesecloth, and acrylic. Inspired by traditional Japanese wood sculpting and the bond between people and nature, Morimura gives life to shapes and images connected to femininity, whose anime-inspired, candid, and virtuous teenage characters move through fantastical worlds and carry us into their dynamic adventures. Morimura’s painting style is soft and evocative, and the trompe l’oeil of her artworks seems to own the magical key to open the doors to one’s imagination.
Regarding her new series Aimai (English: Ambiguous), Morimura shares, “My work presents a world where the ‘objective perspective swallows the subjective perspective.’ One’s status in the world is categorized as ‘wrapped up in a package’ and given to us by others. While categories and labels occupy the world objectively, subjectivity is in the minority. I think of the driftwood as a borderline between the two, the inevitable (subjective) holding a unique form (objective). Even if we speak the same language, our words do not necessarily convey the same meaning, and you can still convey your intentions even if you speak a different language. I love things which are ambiguous.”
“I thought Aimai is a word that has a double meaning with a similar duality and possibility as driftwood. I often feel that few people in the world are aware of the happiness [that can be found] in life. This time, I added a sense of strong hope to the artwork to make it a brighter theme. In addition, a new society has been born, such as ‘stay at home’ and doing work remotely around the world, and the boundary between outside (society and others) and inspired (home) have become ambiguous. Unlike outside, I felt that spending time inside would bring out more unique individuals and reveal new aspects of ourselves.”
Aimai opens Saturday, January 16 in Gallery 3,alongside a solo show from Kazuki Takamatsu, entitled Your Wings, in the Main Gallery. Corey Helford Gallery is located at 571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033, and normal hours are Tuesday – Saturday, from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Please note: In order to keep our family of artists, collectors and staff safe, and in compliance with the COVID-19 state-wide mandate, the physical gallery will remain closed until further notice but can be reached via email at jch@coreyhelfordgallery.com.
About Chishi Morimura:
Born in Tokyo in 1988, Japanese artist Chishi Morimura earned her BFA from Joshibi College of Art and Design in 2009. Morimura’s art is recognizable for her peculiar paintings on driftwood, which she employs as canvases for her artistic compositions, along with the use of shell powder, cheesecloth, and acrylic. Getting inspired by traditional Japanese wood sculpting and the theme of the bond between men and nature, also rooted in Japanese culture, Morimura gives life to shapes and images connected to femininity, whose candid and virtuous teenage characters – clearly Anime-inspired – move through fantastical worlds and carry us in their dynamic adventures. Morimura’s painting style is soft and evocative and the trompe l’oeil of her artworks seems to own the magical key to open the doors to imagination on our bedroom walls.
About Corey Helford Gallery:
Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) was first established in 2006 by Jan Corey Helford and her husband, television producer and creator, Bruce Helford (The Conners, Anger Management, The Drew Carey Show, George Lopez) and has since evolved into one of the premier galleries of New Contemporary art. Its goals as an institution are the support and growth of young and emerging, to well-known and internationally established artists. CHG represents a diverse collection of international artists, primarily influenced by today’s pop culture and collectively encompassing style genres such as New Figurative Art, Pop Surrealism, Neo Pop, Graffiti and Street Art. CHG is located in Downtown Los Angeles in a robust 12,000 square foot building presenting new exhibitions approximately every six weeks. For more info and an upcoming exhibition schedule, visit CoreyHelfordGallery.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
ON VIEW
January 16 – February 20, 2021
COREY HELFORD GALLERY
571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm – 6pm
(310) 287-2340
