Coming clean on artist's inspirations

Unlike other painters, Asae Soya does not use a studio. The Japanese artist works in her bathroom, where rising steam and abundant foam inspire her to create.

Her artworks, along with other 11 Japanese artists', are included in a show entitled Open Up New Horizons, running at the Pyo Gallery Beijing. This is the first time that this group of young Japanese artists has staged a collective exhibition in China.

"These artists grew up with cartoons in Japan. But they were also influenced by Japanese traditional culture," says Hiroya Tsubakihara, the group's team leader. "The combination of the modern and classical factors, therefore, has shaped their concepts of art."

Compared with Chinese contemporary paintings, these Japanese artworks feature the delicate use of colors and peaceful, yet melancholy, tones, Hiroya says. "I hope our artists will have an opportunity to cooperate with Chinese artists, as well as Korean ones, to promote Asian culture together to the whole world," he says.

Sachie Horigome uses various glass bottles as the subject matter for her sketches.

"I loved to see things through glass bottles when I was little. Nowadays, I want to show other people how the world looks through these bottles," the 26-year-old painter explains.

"The positions of the bottles - either standing and laying down - mirror my mood at different times."

Rather than drawing inspiration from natural landscapes, Taro Morimoto focuses on images created by computers. "Things like advertising posts and landscape photos will be edited on computer in the first place," the 38-year-old says. "I then create my paintings based on them. I could have done all of these creations via computer, but it would lead me to lose myself."

The exhibition will close on January 23 next year.

(China Daily 11/29/2007 page19)