Ricardo Gonzalez Explores "Memories of Spring" in New Tokyo Exhibition

Renowned Mexican visual artist Ricardo Gonzalez aka “It’s a Living” will soon display a new body of work in Tokyo’s HPGRP Gallery. The series of paintings will be be presented as part of a solo exhibition called “Memories of Spring.” The pastel-colored works were inspired by the artist’s first trip to Japan during springtime.

“Ricardo, who says he was immediately fascinated by the beauty of Japan, couldn’t come to Japan this time because it was difficult to move across countries due to a global pandemic,” said the gallery in a statement. “ In this era of drastic changes in various values in front of us, Ricardo’s simple and powerful words and phrases pose many questions to us. It’s a living is not just ‘living,’ it may give each of us an opportunity to think about ‘how we want to live.’”

It’s a Living has long been influenced by Japanese animation since his childhood upbringing in Mexico. His signature style is a combination of calligraphy and elements found within graffiti culture. Across his new works, the artist channels his various first experiences in Japan which he has memorialized with a disposable camera. “Every painting is a memory of a precise moment and a feeling caused by the environment capturing the simplicity of life,” said the artist.

View select works in the slideshow above and then visit HPGRP Gallery’s website to learn more. “Memories of Spring” will be on view through October 2 until October 17.

Elsewhere in art, Paris-based lettering artist Tyrsa crafted new large-scale murals at Nike France’s new headquarters.

HPGRP Gallery
B1F, 5-7-17
Minamiaoyama, Minatoku, 
Tokyo 107-0062
Japan