「若我再次探尋心靈的渴望，我只會在自己的後院尋找，而不會再往更遠的地方。因為如果它不在那裡，我一開始就沒真的失去它！」—桃樂絲
“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with!” —Dorothy
是次由JPS 畫廊與 Quiet 畫廊攜手呈獻日本藝術家小川耕平的最新個展《Over the Rainbow》，延續小川別樹一幟的《Green Cow Garden》角色風格，以家傳戶曉的童話故事《綠野仙蹤》為主題，讓觀眾與桃樂絲一起踏上屬於自己的英雄之旅。
The latest solo exhibition “Over the Rainbow” by Japanese artist Kohei Ogawa is presented in collaboration with JPS Gallery and Quiet Gallery. Continuing Ogawa’s distinctive character style from the “Green Cow Garden” series, the exhibition is themed around the well-known fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz,” inviting the audience to embark on their own hero’s journey alongside Dorothy.
Kohei Ogawa, Step, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 150 by 110 cm
Why it matters:
小川耕平的作品常如童話夢工場般成為觀者窺探世外桃源的入口。小川曾在訪問中分享自己熱愛繪本和幻想的世界，而在繪本中化身扮演不同人物的動物們便理所當然地成為他描繪的對象1。因此，恰乎童話故事《綠野仙蹤》的情節，這次的作品也一如以往地以動物為主角。一場龍捲風侵襲下，觀眾伴隨主角桃樂絲在奧茲國前往翡翠城。當懦弱的獅子找到勇氣，錫樵夫重獲心靈，稻草人得到智慧，桃樂絲回到家園，觀眾是否在踏著黃磚路，穿過叢林，遇見野狼與魔法師的路上，找到自己在成長時所缺失的部份？每個人總有缺點與難題，但我們或許從未覺察自己所缺失的往往就埋藏在內心深處。小川耕平於是透過展覽讓觀眾成為故事的角色，相信我們沿著黃磚路前行，必能征服困境、破蛹成蝶，飛越到彩虹的彼端。
The artworks of Kohei Ogawa often serve as an entrance for viewers to peek into an idyllic world, much like a fairy tale dream factory. In interviews, Ogawa has shared his love for picture books and the world of fantasy2. In his illustrations, animals taking on different roles in the story naturally become his subjects. Therefore, much like the plot of the fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz,” his latest work also features animals as the main characters. Under the attack of a tornado, the audience, along with the protagonist Dorothy, travels from the land of Oz to the Emerald City. As the cowardly lion finds courage, the tin woodsman regains his heart, the scarecrow acquires wisdom, and Dorothy returns home, the audience may wonder if they can find the missing pieces of themselves in the process of growth when walking down the Yellow Brick Road which leads to jungles, wolves and wizards. Everyone has flaws and difficulties, but perhaps those we are searching for are what buried deep within our hearts. Through the exhibition, Kohei Ogawa turn the audience into characters in the story, believing that as we follow the Yellow Brick Road we call life, we can conquer difficulties and fly Over the Rainbow.
3 highlights:
．「我覺得如果能夠跟動物們對話、成為朋友會是非常有趣的事，而且我覺得動物與我們是非常親近且熟悉的存在」，小川耕平在一個訪問中分享其對自己創作的主題—動物—的看法3。小川以《Green Cow Garden》(2013年作) 系列聞名，他創造有如童話中的可愛動物角色和光怪陸離的生物，把他們帶到他的繪畫和雕塑作品中，讓觀眾置身於那些角色的世界。這次《Over the Rainbow》展覽中，每個動物角色分別代表每個人或先天或後天形成的缺失。因此我們也將各自帶著自己的困惑，在徬徨迷茫地開展的旅程中，與《綠野仙蹤》的角色一起找尋所失落的，探索所未知的自我，因而成長。
．”I think it would be very interesting to be able to communicate with animals and become friends with them. They are very close and familiar beings to us,” Kohei Ogawa shared his perspective on the theme of his creations—animals—in an interview4. Ogawa is renowned for his “Green Cow Garden” series (2013), where he creates adorable animal characters and fantastical creatures reminiscent of fairy tales. They are brought to life in his paintings and sculptures while the audience is immersed in the world of these characters. In the “Over the Rainbow” exhibition, each animal character represents the weaknesses and shortcomings of each individual. Therefore, with our own confusion, we embark on a journey of wandering and exploration to seek what we lost and discover the unknown self. Eventually, we grow alongside the characters from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Kohei Ogawa, In the forest, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 50 by 110 cm
．小川以其《Green Cow Garden》手工羊毛氈公仔在玩具界佔一席位。他曾嘗試以不同材質創作，而這次桃樂絲與她的夥伴不僅透過畫布走進小川畫筆下的奇幻世界，更會在Quiet畫廊以雕塑和更多不同小型畫作延續，望能以不同媒介展出藝術家的創意，讓觀眾感受沉浸式的體驗。
．Kohei Ogawa has carved a niche for himself in the world of toys with his handmade felt dolls from the “Green Cow Garden” series. He has experimented with different materials, and this time, Dorothy and her companions step into Ogawa’s fantastical world not only through canvas, but also in the form of sculptures and various small paintings at the Quiet Gallery. These showcase the artist’s creativity through different mediums and create an immersive experience for the audience.
．《Over the Rainbow》個展延續小川一貫的風格，融合寫實主義和超現實的想象，幻化出充滿童趣與活力的繽紛樂園，以精湛的技藝和個人藝術風格重塑經典的童話故事，讓陪伴我們成長的童話人物與他筆下的角色們結伴前行，攜領我們走過一個個成長之旅的關卡。
．The solo exhibition “Over the Rainbow” continues Ogawa’s iconic style, blending realism with surreal imagination to transform into a vibrant and whimsical wonderland. With exquisite craftsmanship and a distinctive artistic style, he reshapes the classic fairy tale, constructing a colorful paradise full of fun and vitality. The fairy tale characters together with characters he designed accompanied us through various stages of our growth journey.
Background — Kohei Ogawa:
小川耕平出生於1975年，1997年畢業於東京阿佐谷藝術學院。畢業後，他曾任自由插畫師，為廣告公司、出版社和電視台節目創作插圖。小川最為人熟悉的創作BG熊深受一眾藝術收藏家與玩具愛好者所喜愛。小川善於觀察日常生活中的美好事物，並常於平凡的事物中汲取靈感。創作於2013年的《Green Cow Garden》系列廣受歡迎，而他選用羊毛作為主要創作原料，製作成手掌大小的作品，讓人握在手中時倍感溫暖。從2015年開始，他與How2work合作推出《Naughty Boy》系列。一如他所鍾愛的材料，小川的作品亦傳遞著一種溫暖和療癒的情懷。
Kohei Ogawa was born in 1975 and graduated from the Asagaya College of Art, Tokyo, in 1997. After graduation, he worked as a freelance illustrator, creating illustrations for advertising companies, publishers and television programmes. Ogawa is best known for his creation BG Bear, which has gained popularity among art collectors and toy enthusiasts. He excels at observing the beauty in everyday life and thus often draws inspiration from ordinary things.
His widely acclaimed “Green Cow Garden” series, created in 2013, features hand-sized works made primarily from wool which provide a warm feeling when held in one’s hands. Since 2015, Ogawa collaborated with How2work to launch the “Naughty Boy” series. Just as his beloved materials, Ogawa’s works convey a sense of warmth and has a power of healing.
Final tips:
小川耕平從前就偏愛製作立體作品，雖然在藝術學院中主要學習平面插畫和設計，但在開始創作後便不時製作不同材質的小物，如樹脂黏土與羊毛的玩偶。這次Quiet畫廊也會展示小川的雕塑手作，但展期較短，喜愛立體玩偶的大家要把握機會！
Kohei Ogawa has always had a preference for creating three-dimensional art pieces. Although he primarily studied illustration and design at art school, he often crafts small dolls using different materials, such as resin clay and wool, since he has started his own creations. This time, Quiet Gallery will also showcase Ogawa’s handmade sculptures, but the exhibition period is relatively short. Those who love three-dimensional dolls should seize this opportunity!
KOHEI OGAWA: OVER THE RAINBOW
Date:
2024. 2.1 – 2024. 3. 2
Venue:
JPS 畫廊 香港中環皇后大道中15號置地廣塲中庭2樓218-219號舖
JPS Gallery, Shops 218-219, 2/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Date:
1 – 18 February, 2024
Venue:
Quiet 畫廊 香港中環皇后大道中15 號置地廣場BELOWGROUND 地庫1 號舖
Quiet Gallery, Shop 1, B/F, BELOWGROUND, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Courtesy of the artist and the gallery
Sources:
- 專訪｜日本藝術家小川耕平：充滿溫度的日系療癒情懷. PPAPER. (n.d.). https://www.ppaper.net/page/1583 ↩︎
- 專訪｜日本藝術家小川耕平：充滿溫度的日系療癒情懷. PPAPER. (n.d.). https://www.ppaper.net/page/1583 ↩︎
- 日本羊毛氈藝術家「小川耕平」老師專訪：以手作溫度療癒人心！ | 玩具人toy people news. (n.d.). https://www.toy-people.com/?p=36590 ↩︎
- 日本羊毛氈藝術家「小川耕平」老師專訪：以手作溫度療癒人心！ | 玩具人toy people news. (n.d.). https://www.toy-people.com/?p=36590 ↩︎