Nomura Seiroku || Frantic

 

" I can’t be at peace unless I'm painting. I must paint something. If I refuse the brush, my desire for expression will drive me to madness."

 

This fall, we have another exhibition coexisting with our ‘Modern Masters’, on Nomura Seiroku, a prolific painter of the 20th century. He was a master of the Tsuketa technique and Nihonga style, and he transformed these traditional techniques with a fresh, modern take.

His work is dynamic and full of passion, and his work carries a unique sense of ‘time’: some feel hurried, made frantically and explosively, while others feel slow, quiet, and almost melancholy in their meticulous brushstrokes. The exhibition will feature works from throughout his career, in both frantic coloration as well as sumi-e ink paintings from later in his life in both hanging scroll and framed formats. 

We heavily encourage you to stop by the gallery if you can– seeing his work in person is truly a remarkable experience. 

The exhibition will run from October 5th to November 8th.

【　Nomura Seiroku　】

Nomura Seiroku (1916-1995) was born in Taisho 5 (1916) in Yamanashi Prefecture, his original family name was Ishihara. In Showa 8 (1933), he moved to Tokyo where he enrolled in the night division of the Kawabata Art School. After graduating from the specialized course at the same school, living hand to mouth with various jobs while perfecting his art. He was Conscripted into the Navy in Showa 18 (1943). During this period, he married and took the surname Nomura. Following discharge from the military, in Showa 24 (1949), he began drawing illustrations for novels. From Showa 27 (1952), he started contributing illustrations and essays to the culture section of the Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun newspaper. In the same year, he became involved with the Shin-Ko Art Institute and continued to submit works annually until Showa 33 (1958). In later years, he held numerous solo exhibitions, particularly in Tokyo galleries, and in Showa 50 (1975), he won the grand prize at the 1st Japan-France Contemporary Art Exhibition. 

To see his work and profile, click here.