Oil on canvas

91 × 72.7 cm. 35 7/8 × 28 5/8 in.

Signed in English and dated on the reverse

LITERATURE
Apr 2014, White Words, Soka Contemporary Art Ltd., Taipei, p. 30 – 31
EXHIBITED
26 Apr – 1 Jun 2014, White Words— Iida Kiriko Solo Exhibition, Soka Art, Taipei

PROVENANCE
Soka Art, Taipei
Acquired directly by present private important Asian collector from the above

The Gentle Rain and Clear Breeze Melt the Icy Veil of Spring
Melodies of Spring: by Kiriko Iida

“The snow melts, the ice dissipates, the laughter of children echoing in a village, bringing joy to the village without fear of the cold of the new spring.”
——Kobayashi Issa, Japanese poet

Born in 1970 in Hokkaido, Japan, Kiriko Iida graduated from Hokkaido Institute of Design in 1991. She then made a name for herself in the Japanese art scene, earning acclaim as a prominent contemporary artist in Asia. She was selected for the prestigious Shell Art Awards in 2003 and 2004. Since 2006, she has held solo exhibitions in Japan and Taiwan, and made noteworthy appearances in international art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Taipei Dangdai, and Tokyo Contemporary. Her works are rooted in the snowy landscapes of her hometown, aiming to convey the beauty of “simplicity” and the indomitable spirit of the Ainu people of the northern Japan. They are richly infused with the Japanese aesthetic spirits of “Yugen” and “Wabi-sabi”, but also contain boundless vitality. The characters she depicts are simple and lively, highly sought after by collectors from both the East and the West. We present her heartwarming piece, Waiting the Spring.

A Pure Fairy-tale in the Vast Land

“Creation is the pursuit of capturing a fleeting moment, expressing that ephemeral instant when time stands still amidst the white snow.”
——Kiriko Iida

The rarely trodden paths of Hokkaido in the harsh winter, where the vast land is draped in a silver-white blanket, have shaped Kiriko Iida's “white sentiment.” She once said: “White is the most exclusive colour, capable of reflecting the depths of other hues.” Through her keen observation of the world, Iida portrays her loved ones and the flora and fauna within the backdrop of nature, exploring the hardships and warmth of the world. The artist often starts painting at moment of inspiration but repeatedly contemplates, erases, and redraws after the initial outline, layering until she finds the desired atmospheric ambiance she envisions in her mind. This relentless pursuit ultimately allows her to create pure works that “return to nature.” In 2014, she held a solo exhibition White Words at the Soka Art Centre in Taiwan, showcasing dozens of portraits in the snow. Her works are pure and ethereal, interpreting the warmth and hope of humanity in the powdered winter of Hokkaido. Waiting the Spring is one of her masterpieces, the only one in the exhibition that transcends pure white. It's an extremely romantic scene with pink cherry blossoms falling like snow, creating a rich and warm atmosphere.

The Blushing Promise: A Whisper Awaits Blossoming

Diverging from other works set in the snowy landscape, this piece depicts a serene girl with starry eyes amidst the blooming flowers of spring. Hints of pale blue and pink can be faintly seen in the background, evoking the softening of ice and snow in early spring and signalling the awakening of all things. Delicate brushstrokes depict tender grass sprouts and pink flowers swirling around the protagonist, with petals cascading onto her waterfall-like tresses. Adorning her pristine white pleated garment are accents of peach and goose-yellow blossoms, harmoniously contrasting with the rosy hues on the girl's cheeks. The girl's eyes reveal prominent starry whiteness in her pupils, reveal prominent starry whiteness in her pupils, foreshadowing the lingering snow waiting to melt. The blush tinges her eye contours, cheeks, nose and earlobes, alluding to the endless winter and the anticipation of spring's arrival. The work is full of “mournful but not distressing” found in traditional Japanese painting and literature, bringing viewers into the mysterious pure beings in the snowy country, and purifying their spirits.

“I leave blank spaces in my works, hoping that viewers can feel the beauty hidden in those empty spaces.”
——Kiriko Iida

Iida's utilization of white and emotional expression are not only manifested in colours, but also in pervasive blank spaces throughout the composition. However, the white space is intentionally accumulated through subtle variations of similar tones, adding a touch of serenity and beauty to the work, evoking the hope of spring's arrival, captivating the heartstrings, and imbuing the work with the understated beauty of the East.

In Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ode to the West Wind, he wrote, “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” Reflecting on Iida's works, one can almost hear the sound of snow falling and flowers blooming, as life originates from nature, pure and brilliant. We are not afraid of the cold of winter, only longing for the arrival of spring!

Price estimate:
HKD 70,000 - 150,000
USD 9,000 – 19,200