Exhibition: 7th July to September 7th 2010
Maddox Arts is delighted to present its summer show for 2010, featuring new work by four Japanese artists: Emi Miyashita, Kounosuke Kawakami, Kentaro Kobuke and Kengo Kito. For this special occasion these artists have taken The Japanese Festival of the Weaver, Tanabata, as their source of inspiration.
The festival traces its origin to a legend derived from the Chinese Star Festival, Qi Xi. The story celebrates the meeting of the Weaver Star, Vega, and the Shepherd Star, Altair, across the Milky Way for their annual tryst. Vega the celestial princess daughter of Tentei, Emperor of the Heavens, wove beautiful garments by the bank of the Amanogawa for her father. So solely devoted to weaving cloth for the gods and her father, the weaving princess worried she would never have time to fall in love. Concerned about her daughter’s sadness, Tentei arranged for her to meet a handsome shepherd star, Altair. Both stars fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. As a result of their great love, Vega neglected weaving cloth for the gods and Altair allowed his cows to stray. In punishment, the Emperor of the Heavens separated the star lovers to opposite sides of the Milky Way and stated that they would only be allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. Artists Kobuke, Kawakami, Miyashita and Kito respond to the legend by employing visual elements that not only resemble aspects of the ancient story, but also complement its mythological essence by adding layers of contemporary flavour. In this show artists bring together fantasy, abstraction and imagination in a variety of media including sculpture, drawing and painting.
