Mitsuru Watanabe Displays Works in U.S. For First Time at Rehs Contemporary Galleries
Showcasing his modern take on historical paintings.
Rehs Contemporary Galleries is presenting new work by Japanese artist Mitsuru Watanabe. On view for the first time in the United States, Watanabe’s surrealist works blend iconic Western paintings — especially those of Henri Rousseau — with his own imagination.
Watanabe’s work goes beyond reworking well-known paintings; he features his own daughters, Naoko and Yukiko, along with contemporary references. His daughters’ stoic expressions contrast with the surreal or mythological environments they are placed in; whether it’s riding atop a rhino in an ethereal scene, or interacting with whimsical creatures.
In his piece Naoko Walking in Rousseau’s Forest, the artist depicts his daughter walking calmly through a landscape similar to those the French post-impressionist artist painted. The girl has a Hello Kitty bag slung over her shoulder while she holds a Canon camcorder directly at the viewer. Her youth, naivety, and curiosity, mixed with her unawareness of how important her environment is, creates a humorous juxtaposition between youthful imagination and the seriousness of art historical canons.
Take a look at Watanabe’s works on show at Rehs Contemporary in the gallery above.
Elsewhere, Yoshitomo Nara’s ‘Knife Behind Back’ (2000) fetched $25 million USD at Sotheby’s Hong Kong — the most expensive piece ever sold by the artist at auction.
Rehs Galleries
5 E 57th St 8th floor
New York, NY 10022
