On Friday, July 21, 2023, “tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU”, the main building of Yasumasa Yonehara, opens on Ton-chan Street in Harajuku!

tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU, a gallery in full Yone-chan color curated by Yasumasa Yonehara, will have its pre-opening on Friday, July 14, and will open the following Friday, July 21. We want to bring Yone-chan recommended artists to people who want to enjoy art freely. We want to make Japanese artists known to tourists from all over the world. With this strong desire, the location is in the middle of Ton-chan Street in Harajuku. The first exhibition is “SYNCHRO,” a solo show by gata.

This will be followed by a special exhibition of Yone-chan selections in August. The gallery is right in the middle of Yonehara Yasumasa’s living area, so it is highly likely that you will run into him. If you run into Yone-chan, of course you are welcome to take a picture with him.

 

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tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU presents 

gata solo exhibition “SYNCHRO”

 

Date & Time: July 21 (Fri.) – 30 (Sun.) / closed on July 24 and 25

OPEN 11:00~19:00

Address: 3-20-21-1F C Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

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● “I want a place where I can meet artists that I can’t meet in a regular gallery,” said Yasumasa Yonehara

　Yone-chan, who has made it her life’s work to discover and nurture new artists through such events as WEGO’s After School Art Club and the Love and Madness Market at Laforet Harajuku, thought it necessary to establish a permanent gallery in order to create and promote a place where culture can gather. What was important was the location, including the surrounding area.

　Harajuku Ton-chan Streeti was chosen based on the concept of creating a meeting place for new talent and people who are just getting into art.

　tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU is located in the middle of Harajuku’s Ton-chan Street, a street that is fun just to walk along, with its unique vintage clothing stores and cozy and tasteful restaurants. You can stop by alone while casually walking around Harajuku. It is also a good place to stop by with friends while chatting.

 

● Following last year’s successful first solo exhibition “SMILE” at SHIBUYA SACS, this year’s exhibition will be held at tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU from July 21 (Fri.) to July 30 (Sun.), featuring many more of the “quirky” situations that are characteristic of gata’s work.

gata tells us.

Have you ever wanted to look inside someone else’s head?

You want to know what people are thinking and feeling. ・・・・

For me, a solo exhibition is the best stage to express my view of the world using my works and the gallery space.

On the other hand, I also feel embarrassed because my artwork is a projection and embodiment of my daily experiences and the images in my brain that I feel on a daily basis, and I feel like I am being looked into my own head.

Even so, when I am able to share my feelings through my works, I am very happy because I feel that I have synchronized with the image in the person’s brain, and I am truly happy to have continued my creative activities.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the fact that my thoughts and feelings in my works reach and resonate with people is the driving force behind my creative activities, and I would like to continue to make my solo exhibitions my main battlefield.

It has been about a year since I held my first solo exhibition, and I hope that this summer you will be able to synchronize with the images in my brain and bring a smile to your face.

● What does Yasumasa Yonehara want to convey with “tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU”?

We are pleased to announce the opening of a new gallery “tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU” in Harajuku, Tokyo.

gallery “tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU” in Harajuku.

Why? I answer before you ask me, “Art is essentially about sharing values, much like religion.

I believe that art was originally intended to share values, similar to religion.

The artist’s work (values) is the principle, and people who identify with it resonate with the work’s worldview.

The act of increasing the number of believers is what I consider to be art.

I am sorry if you say it is different, but that is how I see it.

The job of a curator exists to convey this principle.

And the gallery is the main sanctuary

However, the curation I do is a bit habitual, and I am very strict about access to the main sanctuary.

What is a habit?　If you want to know, please visit the gallery.

I’m going to start proselytizing to you with my best fundamentalists.

There are very few galleries that have a habit, if you think about it.

This is the reason why I dare to open a gallery now.

It’s because I have a strong habit.

Sometimes you are right, and sometimes you are wrong, depending on who you are.

The range is very wide.

That is why I think I can introduce you to principles that you have never seen or felt before.

I believe that this is why I am able to introduce principles to you that you have never seen or felt before.

Please look forward to the many religions of art that will be born from this Harajuku gallery.

Curator: Yasumasa Yonehara

 

● ‘If only it were a place where talented people could get a chance.’ Producer’s story

　Producer Kotetsu Kukuchi explains the impetus behind the opening of this gallery.

“I have had the opportunity to observe Yone-chan’s activities over the past few years as I have had more and more opportunities to assist her. I have been able to observe what she is doing.

Whenever Yone-chan has a little free time, she is constantly searching for artists who have something interesting to showcase on social networking sites such as Instagram and Twitter. She does not care about the age or career of the artists, but just enjoys taking her time and having fun. Yone-chan often says that our job is to let talented people create freely and deliver the finished product as it is. I was very moved by her words. I was so moved that I worked hard to open the gallery in the hope that as many people as possible would benefit from the artists that Yone-chan has discovered.”

 

From the Founder, Seiji Kawajiri

“As an art fan, I have always had a vague idea that it would be great if more Japanese artists could make their way in the world. I am happy to have met the curator, Yone-chan, and to have started a gallery where young artists can meet with many foreign tourists and young people. We are now planning to prepare and support an educational foundation to support artists in the future.”