Between the Lines  ______  

Here is my secret. It is very simple.
It is only with the heart thatone can see rightly;
What is essential ­is invisible to theeye.

—Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Le Petit Prince

_________

The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity. (One is unable to notice something—because it is always before one’s eyes.)

—Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations

Between the Lines, an exhibition featuring 10 selected artists from Japan, showcases the aesthetics of abstraction in each of the artists’ chosen mediums. Ranging from Japanese traditional mineral pigments to laser-cut papers, the works present dissimilar yet correlating approaches toward the context of unspoken messages.

While the title, Between the Lines, is commonly used to describe something that is not written or said explicitly or openly, it also addresses the aesthetics of “opaqueness” in Japanese expression and philosophy—where the most essential part is often not obvious at first glance. The exhibition celebrates this lapse of time by intensifying, silencing or synthesizing the notion of opaqueness.

Some of the artists explore the imperfection and blurriness in the hues to suggest a sense of emotional loss and uncertainness, while others utilize “lines” made by paper cutouts or drawn by acrylic pen to observe organic subjects using inorganic materials to underline the fragility. At first glance, some of the artworks seem to be abstract and straightforward, yet the artists have carefully chosen the materials to layer on multiple meanings.

Between the Lines will be on view July 19-23 at Parasol Projects, 2 Rivington Street, New York City, with an opening reception for artists on Thursday, July 20, 6-8 p.m. Participating artists are Reina Arima, Setsuko Ishida, Mica Kinoshita, Kiyora, Ai Ohkawara, Tamaki Ozone, Takahiko Sato, Tomoko Sue, SHIHO and Hirofumi Yamamoto. All artworks will be on online for purchase during and after the exhibition for two weeks. This exhibition is organized by Artrates in Tokyo, which supports Japanese artists to showcase and promote their works internationally.

2 Rivington Street
July 19-23 / 12-6pm
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 20, 6-8 p.m.