Yukari Nishi

LSS NYC

“Ebb and Flow”

2024 September 4 to October 13

Long Story Short is pleased to present Ebb and Flow, a solo exhibition by Yukari Nishi, on display from September 4 to October 13, 2024, at 54E Henry St, New York, NY.

This captivating exhibition features ten of Nishi's heartfelt paintings, which delve into themes of family, motherhood, and the everyday strangers we encounter. Nishi's work often evokes a deep sense of nostalgia, with tender references to "grandmother" and traditional Japanese style.

Using oil on canvas, Nishi beautifully explores familial relationships, depicting mothers, children, grandparents, and family units. Her pieces highlight the bonds and interactions that shape these connections. For instance, “Untitled:24_E” portrays a grandmother in a Japanese-Western setting, inviting viewers to ponder what secrets lie beneath the hem of her kappogi. Nostalgic elements permeate the exhibition, with childhood memories, grandparents' homes, and traditional Japanese motifs creating a rich tapestry of cultural heritage. "Untitled:24_F" draws inspiration from Nishi’s grandparents' home, featuring vibrant characters such as a parent and child, or a child holding a cherished doll. "Untitled:24_G" depicts a character with Nishi’s beloved childhood snack, while a pink stuffed elephant adds both a splash of color and a hint of underlying tension. These nostalgic elements add a deep cultural layer to the exhibition.

Nishi lends a modern twist to the traditional themes, making the exhibition intriguing and thought-provoking through AI-generated creatures and fantastical settings. "Untitled:24_D" captures a mother and child with an AI-generated cat, set against a backdrop of contrasting dark landscapes and bright fences, enhancing the eerie yet fitting mood. The show also includes a series of surreal and whimsical scenes, with human-like figures sporting teddy bear faces, livestock, or even hamburger heads, all set in nostalgically enchanting environments. "Untitled:24_H" features a whimsical Hamburger-kun character with ears, creating a curious photography set, while "Untitled:24_I" shows masked figures suggesting a balanced, happy family portrait. The lively farm goats in "Untitled:24_K" are celebrated for their beautiful fur, and "Untitled:24_L" portrays Hamburger-kun with a bun filled with sweets, stationery, and slime, evoking feelings of confusion and melancholy.

Born in 1978 in Japan and based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Nishi’s paintings blend mid-century Western nostalgia with surreal, faceless figures, emotionless plushies, and lifeless animals. Her works, created from mainstream media collages, traverse the space between reality and fiction, prompting introspection. A graduate of Kyoto University of the Arts, Nishi has exhibited widely, including solo and group shows in Tokyo, Taipei, and Beijing, as well as at Art Fair Tokyo and Taipei Dangdai.