ENG｜JPN

WORD PAINTING

I look at surrounding
White scenery for a while
Feel like having watched the sky in olden days
Words and the scene crumble from my fading awareness as time goes by
My heart shivers with the cold
Outline of warmth impresses deeply in my mind
I am only just able to breathe
The thing which keeps the existence is in this world such as a daydream
Moment and form are drawn dearly like spinning yarn
I will be here even if I will come to nought in due time
Standing amid the distant recollections with slightly warmth in my bosom
I wonder if you will hear the lasting songs

PROFILE

Chizuru Masumura

Born 1972 in Yamaguchi, Japan
1993 Graduated from Hijiyama Women's Junior College, Hiroshima
Lives and works in Japan

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2019
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo
2016
Gallery Suchi / Tokyo
2014
Gallery Suchi / Tokyo
2011
neutron tokyo / Tokyo
2010
neutron kyoto / Kyoto
2009
neutron tokyo / Tokyo
2009
Art Center Painting Competition Winner’s exhibition / Hyogo
2008
neutron kyoto / Kyoto
2007
gallery CLASS / Nara
2006
galeria CERO / Osaka
2005
Belgium Flanders Center/ Osaka
2005
Pantaloon / Osaka
2004
Art Garden / Okayama
2004
Guild Gallery / Osaka

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021
Electronic Wire Art Exhibition / Nerima Art Museum / Tokyo
2020
FREE COLORS / Nihombashi Mitsukoshi / Tokyo
2020
10th Anniversary Exhibition -Rising- / Gallery Suchi / Tokyo
2018
Kanji Maeda Grand Prize / Takashimaya, Kurayoshi Museum / Tokyo,Tottori
2016
THE TECHNIQUE Ⅲ / Nihombashi Mitsukoshi / Tokyo
2015
Creative Gallery / Knowledge Salon in Grand Front Osaka / Osaka
2014
ASIAN REALISM Ⅱ / Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery,AKI Gallery / Tokyo,Taipei
2014
Kanji Maeda Grand Prize / Takashimaya, Kurayoshi Museum / Tokyo,Tottori
2014
Mr.M Collection Exhibition / Gallery Suchi / Tokyo
2013
3331 ART COLLECTOR FAIR / 3331 Arts Chiyoda / Tokyo
2012
When Poetry Meets Art/ Gallery Emu / Tokyo
2012
One Piece Exhibition / Tezukayama Gallery,Megumi Ogita Gallery / Osaka,Tokyo
2011
The World of the Future / neutron tokyo / Tokyo
2010
Korea-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition / Bumi Art Hall / Busan
2010
GALA CONTEMPORARY ART/ Artpro GALA / Fukuoka
2009
Wishing Stars / neutron tokyo / Tokyo
2009
Outstanding Rising Artists Exhibition / Sompo Japan Museum / Tokyo
2008
Art Center Painting Competition / Japan Art Center / Tokyo,Kobe,Fukuoka
2007
Gallerism / Osaka Contemporary Art Center / Osaka

Art Fair

2019
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum, Solo booth / Tokyo
2018
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo
2017
Art Osaka / Hotel Granvia Osaka / Osaka
2017
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo
2016
Art Fair Asia Fukuoka / Hotel Okura Fukuoka / Fukuoka
2016
Art Osaka / Hotel Granvia Osaka / Osaka
2016
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo
2015
Art Osaka / Hotel Granvia Osaka / Osaka
2015
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo
2014
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum / Tokyo
2013
Art Taipei / Taipei World Trade Center / Taipei
2013
Art Osaka / Hotel Granvia Osaka / Osaka
2013
Asia Hotel Art Fair Hong Kong / Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong / Hong Kong
2012
Art Fair Tokyo / Tokyo International Forum, Solo booth / Tokyo
2011
Young Art Taipei / Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei / Taipei
2009
EMERGING DIRECTORS' ART FAIR "ULTRA002" / Spiral / Tokyo

Awards

2011
Young Art Award / Taipei / Finalist Top5
2008
Art Center Painting Competition / Jury Prize
2006
Fukui Thumbhole Art Exhibition / Encouragement Prize
2005
Fukui Thumbhole Art Exhibition / Fine Work Prize
1999
Concours Drawing Dessin Gravure of Japanese Artists / Paris / a Prize

CONTRIBUTION

Masumura Chizuru cites a fondness for ancient Western painting. This influence is apparent in her motifs, but the fact that Masumura has an interest in the medieval techniques and materials that shaped oil painting is also evident in her method of depiction. Her method of creating depth by applying successive layers of paint calls for a long-sustained tension that impedes prolific output.
Masumura’s depictions of a part of her own body or a segment of a plant present us with a scene that is distant from everyday life. Her detailed approach and lustrous picture plane seem to release a quiet but audible sigh. Masumura’s paintings are also imbued with an indifference that rejects our gaze. The overall paintings are so complete that there is no room for anyone else. They are so cool and sober that it is impossible to detect the slightest hint of kindness or warmth. But at the same time, this sense of rejection is also what makes Masumura’s paintings attractive.
This solo exhibition of the artist’s work, held at neutron kyoto in 2010, is titled Tenderness. As Masumura herself suggests (“Many of my recent works contain emotions”), these paintings display a different attitude from those we are used to seeing. In contrast to her work of the past, which seemed to push the viewer away, these new paintings not only depict the “tenderness” of the exhibition title but also a sense of “sensitivity” and “delicacy.” They seem to represent a gradual shift in Masumura’s own sensibility, and have emerged as a way of breathing life into her intimate feelings. As she continues to suppress the emotions that well up inside of her, Masumura enjoys depicting the instant of feeling. What do the resultant motifs convey or express? They tell us that a painting is a generative medium rather than a finished product.

Kawasaki Koichi | Independent Curator
(Formerly Chief Curator / Assistant Director, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art)
This text was originally written for
Masumura Chizuru’s 2010 solo exhibition Tenderness at neutron kyoto