Minami, Masahiko (1968 - Present)
Masahiko Minami works with charcoal and graphite to create minimalist landscapes in dramatic contrast. As finely textured line creeps into bright channels of white space, his landscapes present a tension between absence and depth, reflection and contemplation. The bright white waterways so central to his work appear impenetrable, yet Minami believes that though “what we cannot see is hidden in the depth of the water… our vanity and feelings are reflected on its surface.” He states, “I do my artwork with the prayer that peace comes to the mind of each restless traveler reflecting upon the mystery of water.”
Born in Ibaraki, Japan, Masahiko Minami received his Master’s from Musashino Art University. Today, Minami lives and works in Tokyo. He has actively exhibited his work in solo exhibitions throughout Tokyo since 2008. In addition, he has exhibited his work in group shows in Tokyo and participated in international art fairs in Hong Kong, Korea, Norway and Tokyo. Named first runner up in the 2019 Ronin | Globus Artist-in-Residence Program, a selection of Minami’s work was exhibited in Ronin Gallery’s 2019 Contemporary Talents of Japan: Ryusui exhibition July 2019.
Contemporary Japanese and East Asian Art
Ronin Gallery’s Contemporary art collection challenges the boundaries of tradition and innovation through the work of Japan's greatest contemporary artists and tomorrow’s most promising talents. Featured in museum exhibitions worldwide, contemporary Japanese and East Asian artists are pushing limits and exploring fresh techniques across mediums and styles. For many of the contemporary artists in this collection, inspiration sparks from an interweaving of old with new. Many combine traditional themes, tools, or materials with technology, contemporary themes, or innovative techniques. This hybrid expression is distinctly contemporary and unremittingly vital. From the Pop art legacy of the Shinohara’s to the foremost master of Japanese tattooing, Horiyoshi III, this collection of contemporary Japanese and East Asian art spans a wide range of media, including woodblock prints, screen prints, photography, etchings, paintings, sculpture, calligraphy, ceramics, and mixed media artworks.