Acrylic and aerosol on canvas

170 x 170 cm. 66 7/8 x 66 7/8 in.

Signed in English and dated on the reverse
EXHIBITED
19 May – 15 Jun 2017, Madsaki solo exhibition Here Today, Gone Tomorrow. Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Tokyo

PROVENANCE
Kaikai Kiki Gallery, Tokyo
Acquired directly by original private collector from the above
11 Jul 2020, Christie's Hong Kong Spring Auction, Lot 209
Acquired directly by present important private Asian collector from the above

A Momentary Glimpse, an Eternal Love
Tenderness of a Tough Man: Madsaki's Wife Series

Born in Osaka, Madsaki moved to New Jersey, USA with his family when he was six years old. He graduated from the Parsons School of Design in 1996. The cultural differences he experienced while living abroad led him to be confused about his identity, questioning whether he was American or Japanese. It is this continuous contemplation and mixed emotions about his identity that have shaped his diverse and integrated artistic style. Growing up with graffiti from the American streets and the rise of Japanese-American cartoons in the 80s, Madsaki incorporated these elements into his creations, using spray paint instead of traditional paintbrushes to create his unique style. “I don't like clean and orderly lines; I prefer irregular or even ‘dirty' lines. I have no intention of trying to create detailed paintings. Many people excel at meticulous and detailed work, and their creations are their own decisions,” says Madsaki. He believes that “ugliness” can also be beautiful. The rugged and bold street style coexists with traditional canvases, creating unique qualities and impact in his artworks. His fearless, open-minded, and boundary-breaking approach to art has gained him a lot of recognition. Renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami was his earliest supporter, collecting multiple pieces of his work and exhibiting them publicly. Since 2016, Madsaki has become the representative and collaborating artist of well-known galleries such as Kaikai Kiki and Perrotin, shining brightly in the art world. His works have also been showcased in Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Oslo, and Xiao Museum of Contemporary Art museum in Shandong, etc.

Everyday Life and Eternal Love

Madsaki's unique sense of humour shines through his spray-painted artwork. His most iconic smiley face, with its simple lines that appear both sad and happy, black hollow eyes shedding tears, offers a rich and intuitive visual experience that is instantly recognizable. This autumn, his large-scale painting Corn from the influential Wife Series, which he began painting in 2011 with his wife Lommi as the protagonist, is being featured. “While drawing her (Lommi) in my studio, there were many times that I could not stop crying. Transience. I want to believe that these feelings of love and strong connection will last for eternity. However, there is no eternity and one day it will come to a rattling collapse. Probably a big earthquake will come. Probably a war will break out. Probably…our hearts will grow apart,” says the artist. The artwork encompasses deep emotions.

Unlike his other Marvel and Rolex Series, which are loud and flashy, in the Wife Series, the artist subtly expresses his love and cherish for his wife by observing and interpreting the little moments of her life on the canvas: putting on makeup, brushing teeth, eating, having snacks… It captures his intense and profound affection for his wife.

Corn exudes a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere. The main figure in the painting is adorned with a colourful and patterned Japanese kimono, lazily reclining on a tatami mat, with a relaxed gaze, a phone and a bowl of corn snacks placed nearby, and a simple wooden door partially concealing the backdrop. The bright and saturated dots of flowers and the deep blue kimono create a strong colour contrast. The black marks flowing from the eyes of the character and the scattered dots of ink throughout the painting are frozen, released, and flowing on the canvas, capturing the essence of the artwork. Through contrasting elements, Madsaki expresses his deep thoughts and profound emotions about contemporary family life, showcasing a rare sense of stability and tranquillity in this ever-changing world. If Wannabe Series is Madsaki's rebellion and tribute to art history through a small but significant lens, this work is his declaration of holding onto the precious little moments. With minimal brushstrokes and simple colours, it captures the beautiful moments of daily life, which are forever precious to the artist. It also evokes memories of every cherished treasure in the viewer's own life.

Price estimate:
HKD 750,000 – 950,000
USD 96,200 – 121,800