Oil colour on wooden sculpture

70 x 61 x 35 cm. 27 1/2 x 24 x 13 3/4 in.

EXHIBITED
14 – 19 May 2012, Hopehole - Moe Nakamura Exhibition, Gallery Tsubaki, Tokyo

PROVENANCE
Gallery Tsubaki, Tokyo
Private Collection, Asia
This sculpture is to be sold with a Certificate of Work issued by Gallery Tsubaki, Tokyo

Perfectly Imperfection
The adorable story of Moe Nakamura
Moe Nakamura was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1988. Since childhood, Moe has greatly admired the works of artist Yoshitomo Nara and also enjoyed reading the novels of writer Yoshimoto Banana, which are infused with humanity and love. This cultivated Moe's habit of observing the beauty and goodness of society. Since graduating from Joshibi University of Art and Design in 2010, she has focused on creating depictions of children that are both adorable and filled with visual tension. In 2012, she held her first solo exhibition at Gallery Tsubaki in Tokyo, receiving great acclaim. The following year, she won the Upcoming Artist of the Year award from Asahi Shimbun （one of Japan's leading newspapers）, becoming one of the hottest rising stars of the Japanese contemporary art world in recent years. The work currently being auctioned, Hopehole in the Back, is an excellent piece from her first solo exhibition.
The subject of Hopehole in the Back is a wood-carved doll which is an iconic character of Moe Nakamura's works. She has a round head, ocean-blue eyes, and a flat nose. Her slightly parted lips make her look somewhat confused. She is wearing a dark-blue long-sleeved dress, and her feet are placed firmly on the ground. One of her hands naturally falls to her waist, while the other hand is held up. During the creative process, the artist purposefully preserved the grain lines left during the carving process, thereby endowing the doll's skin with a realistic-looking texture. In addition, two smooth antlers protrude from the character's head, perhaps hinting that she feels some confusion or anxiety about her own identity. However, her expression is unaggressive and full of love, imbuing the viewer with a feeling of simplicity, purity, and serenity.

Price estimate:
HKD: 100,000 - 150,000
USD: 12,700 - 19,100

Auction Result:
HKD : 212,400