Courtesy Misako & Rosen, Tokyo, and 47 Canal, New York
Art
Kazuyuki Takezaki, Star of the Japanese Art Scene, Dies at 48
Kazuyuki Takezaki, a painter whose blurry, washed-out landscapes made him a closely watched artist of Japan’s art scene, has died at 48 after a heart attack. Jeffrey Rosen, cofounder of Takezaki’s Tokyo-based representative Misako & Rosen, confirmed the artist’s death and said his gallery was working to establish an estate for Takezaki.
Takezaki died just weeks after the closure of his first major New York solo exhibition, at 47 Canal gallery. That show featured recent paintings of trees, mountains, greenery, and more that he spotted in Marugame, the seaside city in Japan where he was based.
These paintings, with their forms that melt into abstraction, attest to a natural world that is slipping away, given that manmade industrial interventions now pose a significant threat to the area around Marugame. “Communicating a profound yet fleeting sense of place, Takezaki’s windows onto this constantly shifting environment are also reflections on time, memory, and the porous overlaps between subject and object,” Andrew Maerkle wrote in an essay accompanying the 47 Canal show.
The 47 Canal show was one of the few exhibitions Takezaki had held in the US. In Japan, he had built a significant resume, with solo shows held at the Kochi Museum of Art and Misako & Rosen.
He was born in Kochi, Japan, in 1976, and his birthplace would continue to loom large over his practice. “Such a combination, that of the natural and artificial within this town so full of possibility and prompts my imagination,” he wrote in an exhibition text for a 2008 Misako & Rosen exhibition.
Takezaki went on to attend Kochi University. Then, upon graduation in 1999, he relocated to Tokyo, where he focused on building out his artistic practice.
Early on, Takezaki’s art appeared in group shows held by blue-chip galleries, such as New York’s Yvon Lambert and Tokyo’s Ota Fine Arts. But it was a gallery of Takezaki’s making that helped earn his place in the Japanese scene: Takefloor, which he launched within his small Tokyo apartment.
Jeffrey Rosen, Takezaki’s dealer, credited Takefloor with acting as a catalyst for experimental art in the Japanese art scene. Rosen credited Takefloor with inspiring him to open Misako & Rosen, telling Artspace in 2015 that Takezaki’s gallery “gave everybody of our generation the courage to start opening up our own space.”
After working in Tokyo for a period, Takezaki returned to Kochi, then moved to Marugame. In the latter city, he began making his “Board / Table” paintings, for which he would attach a canvas to a board, then drive beyond the city with it. In view of mountains and trees, he would depict what he saw in oil stick, working quickly in an attempt to make permanent all this nature in flux over the course of several days. Some of these works appeared this year at 47 Canal and in 2023 at Milwaukee’s Green Art Gallery, in his first US solo show.
Though they started out figural, these pieces quickly dissolved into blobs of muted color. “At dusk,” Takezaki once remarked, “I often see the town horizontally divided into upper and lower halves by transparent and opaque color.”
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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