We are thrilled to announce the representation of Akira Yoshikawa at United Contemporary. With a career spanning over 50 years, Yoshikawa’s multidisciplinary practice bridges Japanese heritage and philosophy with the principles of Formalism in North American art.
Yoshikawa engages with the fast-moving, cybernetic environment of contemporary life, where the urgency for instant gratification often eclipses the essential need to slow down and reflect. His work emerges as a counterpoint to this cultural acceleration, inviting moments of pause to reconcile with the self and adjust to one’s presence in the world. Through a philosophy rooted in Eastern traditions, Yoshikawa emphasizes the significance of ‘the temporal moment’—a mindful appreciation of the present, free from the weight of the past or the uncertainty of the future.
Inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘Artless Art,’ Yoshikawa’s work embraces intuitive and natural expression, stripping away excess to reveal a distilled essence. This approach resonates with the aesthetic purity of North American Minimalism from the 1970s, aligning deeply with his ethos of simplicity and focus on the essential.
We are delighted to welcome Yoshikawa to the gallery roster. His upcoming solo exhibition, Resurgence, opens on January 16 and will feature installations and works on paper from the 1990s to the present.
Yoshikawa engages with the fast-moving, cybernetic environment of contemporary life, where the urgency for instant gratification often eclipses the essential need to slow down and reflect. His work emerges as a counterpoint to this cultural acceleration, inviting moments of pause to reconcile with the self and adjust to one’s presence in the world. Through a philosophy rooted in Eastern traditions, Yoshikawa emphasizes the significance of ‘the temporal moment’—a mindful appreciation of the present, free from the weight of the past or the uncertainty of the future.
Inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘Artless Art,’ Yoshikawa’s work embraces intuitive and natural expression, stripping away excess to reveal a distilled essence. This approach resonates with the aesthetic purity of North American Minimalism from the 1970s, aligning deeply with his ethos of simplicity and focus on the essential.
We are delighted to welcome Yoshikawa to the gallery roster. His upcoming solo exhibition, Resurgence, opens on January 16 and will feature installations and works on paper from the 1990s to the present.
January 4, 2025
