Acrylic on canvas

100 x 80.3 cm. 39 3/8 × 31 5/8 in.

Titled and signed in Kanji and English, and dated on the reverse
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Asia

Note: A label of Fuma Contemporary Tokyo Bunkyo Art, Tokyo is affixed on the reverse

Dreams as Our North Star, Marching Toward the Radiant Path
Kohei Yamada: Homage to Vincent Van Gogh

“This painting is a tribute to Van Gogh. I am aiming for a work that combines the earnestness and persistence like Van Gogh and the frivolity like Andy Warhol.”
——Kohei Yamada

For the Japanese artist Kohei Yamada, born in the 1990s, the long and dazzling history of art is not an unreachable mountain, but a treasure worth examining and exploring from a new perspective. Since graduating from Hiroshima City University's School of Art in 2016, Yamada has been creating “Girls” that embody perfect symmetry, simplicity, yet complexity. Drawing inspiration from art history classics films, and contemporary pop culture, he transforms iconic elements into the attire and background design codes of his protagonists. Today, “Girls” have become his signature, with his works exhibited consecutively in Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and sought after by numerous collectors. In August of this year, he was invited by the renowned fashion brand Converse to collaborate on clothing and footwear designs. The artwork in the Hong Kong aution, La Boheme (Yellow) represents his renowned “Girls” theme, showcasing his mischievous and imaginative whimsy, combined with his remarkable ability to turn ideas into reality.

Reviving the Classics, Embracing a Vision

The term “Bohemian” has represented artists who exist outside traditional society and are not bound by its conventions since the 19th century. On the golden background of this painting, sunflowers symbolizing Van Gogh are arranged in the form of Pop Art inspired manner, akin to Andy Warhol's repeated soup cans, forming a radiant garden. A girl with emerald eyes, a rosy complexion, and a face full of powder stands in the centre, gazing at the viewer. The pattern on her attire depicts Van Gogh's renowned work, the vibrant and lifelike Cypresses. The sweater's reddish-brown stripes simulate the texture of trees in Van Gogh's brushstrokes, creatively strengthening the connection between the girl and the revered works of Van Gogh. The girl's light blue hair and deep blue jeans are adorned with dazzling blue, orange, and yellow dots, reminiscent of the flowing night sky in Van Gogh's Starry Night, enveloping numerous shimmering stars, creating a resplendent scene.

In addition to the references to Van Gogh's works, this piece subtly incorporates other intriguing details. For instance, the gun held by the girl bears the inscription “Of Human Bondage,” the same title as the 1930s film, which the artist thinks the protagonist's suicide is similar to Van Gogh's tumultuous life and tragic ending. The gun held in her hand symbolizes reclaiming agency, signifying the possibility for individuals to resist adversity and seize control of their own destiny with resilience and determination. The pink dollar signs and golden crown emblem on the girl's pants derive from Warhol, representing status and wealth, echoing Warhol's famous quote, “Making money is art.” Through this artwork, Kohei Yamada ultimately seeks to inspire himself and the viewers to embrace the passion of Van Gogh, exhibit resilience and determination in the face of challenges, and approach the future as sovereigns of their own selves.

Price estimate:
HKD 75,000 – 120,000
USD 9,600 – 15,400