Text Yukihisa Takei

The human-shaped black character LUV will be featured in a wide range of works at the solo exhibition ‘This is LUV’

Have you ever seen one of these human-shaped black character murals walking around the Harajuku-Omotesando area?

The paintings are works by Tokyo-based painter LY, whose largest-ever solo exhibition will be held at Gallery SAI in MIYASHITA PARK from 23 September in association with GALLERY TARGET.

LY studied painting at art school from an early age and started creating artwork as a painter when she fell in love with street art during her teenage years. Since then, she has been creating mural works globally, primarily in Tokyo, but also in other parts of Japan, the USA, Paris, Bangkok, Malaysia and elsewhere.

The name of the black human-shaped character that often appears in work is called LUV. It’s a catchy and impressive figure as the artist herself explains, "LUV, who wanders around the city and in the forest in a black-and-white world, carrying a skateboard, flowers and sometimes even a dog, is an important presence that speaks for the artist's internal feelings”.

The solo exhibition 'This is LUV' features canvas works on four different themes: 'Landscape', in which LUV fits into a natural landscape; 'Portrait', which focuses on LUV itself; 'Cityscape', which depicts LUV in the city; and 'Blooms', a group of floral works surrounding a painting of the artist's daughter.

In addition, two large-scale bronze works, 'With his sidekick' and 'This is LUV', created through the Netherlands-based art platform Avant Arte, will be shown for the first time.

During the exhibition, there will also be small three-dimensional works with editions, prints, and works inspired by the flower bases that appear in one of the paintings and other goods available to purchase, so don't miss this chance to see a series of works by LY for those who have been following her.

［INFORMATION］

LY “This is LUV”
Dates: 23 September - 16 October 2022
Venue: SAI
RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK South 3F, 6-20-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 - 20:00 (Open every day)

［CONTACT］

SAI
TEL : 03-6712-5706
info@saiart.jp 
Instagram : ＠sai_miyashita