Text Takaaki Miyake

The first solo exhibition in Japan by a New York-based contemporary artist - what is it all about?

American artist Sam Friedman will hold his first solo exhibition in Japan, 'Room Service', at The Mass from 28 May.

The artist, who has also worked as a studio manager for KAWS, will showcase all new canvas works from his ongoing 'Cave Paintings' series in this exhibition. The 'Cave Paintings’ was born out of his early figurative work and is an essential series for the artist that has led to the development of his current style.

His distinctive style, characterised by gradations of color, is inspired by the natural landscape of upstate New York, where he lives, and is also rooted in the tradition of American Abstract Expressionist painters such as Clyfford Still and Burnett Newman. On the other hand, he also uses figurative paintings, landscapes and Japanese woodblock prints as references. The gradation lines and shapes in his work are reminiscent of the sand patterns of karesansui (dry landscape water).

The exhibition by Sam Friedman, whose work is also linked to Japanese aesthetics, will include large scale works on large round canvases, as well as a series of small scale paintings on multiple canvases, in keeping with the cyclical nature of his own painting practice. Given the artist's background and the fact that this solo exhibition is hosted by The Mass, a leading figure in the Tokyo art scene in recent years, it promises to be a must-see exhibition.

［INFORMATION］

Sam Friedman ‘Room Service’
Date: May 28 - June 26
Address: 5-11-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 12:00 - 19:00
*Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

［CONTACT］

The Mass
TEL：03-3406-0188
http://themass.jp
Instagram：@themass