現居紐約的日本藝術家松山智一五年前舉辦了首場香港個人展覽。這次的「松山智一：天真的幸運」展售會將呈獻超過20幅作品，這些作品揉合了流行文化與傳統東亞文化題材元素，探索東方與西方、新與舊、過去與現實等截然不同的世界。

Titled ‘Harmless Charm’, the selling exhibition of New York-based Japanese artist Tomokazu Matsuyama, marks his return to the city after five years. The exhibition will feature over 20 works, including newly created and never-before-seen paintings which blend elements of popular culture and traditional Asian motifs, moving beyond traditional geographical and temporal boundaries to create worlds where there is no East and West nor past and present.

Why it matters:
「天真的幸運」展出松山智一的經典「抽象」、「騎士」、「虛構風景」及「神話」系列新作。此外，他首度推出的9幅 NFT作品亦會同場展出，這些作品繼續以油彩為媒材，秉承他一貫的魔幻風格，探索現實與文化身分認同。這一系列9幅NFT新作包括：3幅一版1件、3幅一版5件及3幅一版150件，在蘇富比元宇宙平台Sotheby’s Metaverse 上亦可供觀賞和購買。

Forming part of Matsuyama’s celebrated Abstract, Equestrian, Fictional Landscape and Mythological series, these pieces will go on view alongside his debut collection of 9 NFTs. A digital extension of his painterly explorations into reality and cultural identity, Matsuyama’s NFT collection – comprising three unique 1-of-1s, three editions of 5 and three editions of 150 – will also be available to view and purchase on Sotheby’s Metaverse.

4 Highlights:

．「抽象」系列
松山智一的獨特風格靈感部分源自傑克森・波拉克、威廉・德庫寧等抽象表現藝術家的動勢繪畫。本作以日本傳統摺紙工藝的千紙鶴為主要元素。畫面中心色彩繽紛的大圖案左右各有一個小圓盤相伴，小圓盤的主體色調較暗沉，中間穿插淺色調的薄荷綠。
．Abstract Series
Matsuyama references and reinterprets the power and gesture of Abstract Expressionist artists such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning through his unique style. By folding in the Eastern tradition of lucky charms, Harmless Charm is inspired by the ‘Senbazuru’ – a thousand paper cranes. The bright center piece is complemented by the two tondos in a subdued palette with pops of mint green hues.

．「神話」系列
松山智一的「神話」系列重塑了中國神話裡的麒麟形象。這幅《世界城鎮孤寂》是這次展覽中尺幅最大的作品，松山智一以抽象的構圖和繽紛色彩描繪一條龍騰飛躍的神獸，畫面融合普普風格和東亞文化特色。在西方傳說和故事中，龍是惡獸，屠龍者被稱為勇士；在東亞文化中，龍卻是為人間帶來福兆的靈獸。松山智一經常通過作品並呈東方和西方文化元素，藉此令觀者思考當下全球不同文化的碰撞交融。
．Mythological Series
The Mythological series reinterprets the qilin, the legendary divine beast. The largest work in the exhibition, World Town Lonely features a spirited dragon, crafted with an abstract visual language and vivid colours, reminiscent of both pop culture and Asian culture. Matsuyama brings together a dichotomy of Eastern and Western cultures within his canvas, for instance, in Western art history dragons are often regarded as terrifying beasts to slay, whereas the East sees them as divine and auspicious, prompting viewers to question cross-cultural blending within today’s society.

．「虛構風景」系列
這幅少見而獨特的室內場景畫蘊涵豐富的流行文化和藝術史元素，留待觀者自行發掘和想像，當中例如有安迪・沃荷的 Brillo 肥皂盒、紐約時裝區的圍巾，還有日本傳統畫風的貓兒；畫面背景的牆紙和室內裝飾都是藝術家的手繪。松山智一藉著鋪天蓋地的豐富視覺元素，展現出當今世代跨越時間和地理藩籬的多元文化體驗。
．Fictional Landscape Series
The unusual interior scene of Melody Mad Afternoon includes diverse references to art history and contemporary Asian and Western culture leaving the viewer to discover their own interpretations of the work. Andy Warhol’s Brillo Box, a scarf from New York’s garment district and a cat inspired by traditional Japanese painting, as well as hand-painted wallpaper and decor, blend together to express our transient identity that is free from constraints of temporal and geographical context.

．「騎士」系列
騎士向來是權力與征戰的象徵，松山智一在這個系列中，特意使用鮮明色彩和奇幻豐富的圖案，為騎士披上當代風格的打扮。松山智一除了希望賦予騎士新的意義，亦希望藉此將離鄉別井的藝術家串聯起來。他顛覆騎士自古以來等同戰爭和英雄的形象，藉此為這個歷史悠久的藝術主題開闢新的價值和意義。
．Equestrian Series
Historically a symbol of power and conquest in almost every culture, the recurring motif of the horse and rider is given a new meaning in this series through the artist’s use of vivid colours, a confused temporal and meteorological state and fashionable contemporary clothing. Matsuyama’s seemingly effortless blending of motifs and painting styles draws the viewer to make connections with other diasporic artists. He aims to liberate the traditional equestrian image from the context of propaganda in an effort to reframe historic connotations of the subject matter while venturing into an uncharted artistic territory.

Background – Tomokazu Matsuyama (b. 1976, Japan):
松山智一在日本與美國兩地成長，他的作品揉合東、西方美學的特點，以呼應他在兩種截然不同的文化中的成長體驗。松山智一現居於紐約布魯克林。他畢業於紐約普萊特設計學院，並取得藝術碩士學位。松山智一曾在多個大型美術館與機構舉辦重要展覽，包括上海與重慶的龍美術館、香港當代藝術基金會（HOCA）、紐約日本文化協會、麻省哈佛大學、華盛頓美利堅大學卡岑藝術中心、澳洲當代藝術博物館等。

Tomokazu Matsuyama creates work that responds to his own bi-cultural experience of growing up between Japan and America by questioning the aesthetic, cultural and conceptual systems of East and West. Matsuyama currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He received his MFA in Communications Design from the Pratt Institute, New York. Matsuyama’s important exhibitions include the Long Museums in both Shanghai and Chongqing, China; Hong Kong Contemporary Art (HOCA) Foundation, Hong Kong; Japan Society, New York, NY, USA; Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Katzen Arts Center at American University Museum, Washington, DC, USA; and Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia, among other galleries and institutions.

Final Tips:
購買全部3幅每版各150件的NFT作品，可獲贈1幅由松山智一設計的特別版NFT禮物。每個錢包地址可最多申請一件NFT禮物。

Upon purchase of all three editions of 150 NFTs, collectors will be able to redeem a special edition NFT gift designed by Matsuyama. Each wallet is permitted to claim a maximum of one claimable gift.

松山智一：天真的幸運
Tomokazu Matsuyama: Harmless Charm
Date:
2022.6.14 – 6.21
Venue:
香港蘇富比藝術空間
太古廣場一期五樓
Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery
5/F One Pacific Place

Courtesy to Sotheby’s and the artists