KOHEI YAMADA: BORDERLINE

The term “borderline,” which Kohei YAMADA (b. 1997, Japan) has chosen as the central theme of this exhibition, symbolically refers to both physical and conceptual spaces where two or more opposing entities meet. The artist perceives the layers of paint meticulously built upon the canvas as delicate membranes, each encapsulating a singular moment or a fragment of memory. He focuses on the borderline—the symbolic threshold where these translucent veils come into contact. Throughout the painting process, borderlines continuously emerge—both in the vertical layering of overlapping pigments on the canvas and in the horizontal intersections where distinct color planes collide. The geometric forms, existing as independent surfaces, interact at their edges: some absorb and merge into each other’s hues, while others contrast and repel, creating dynamic visual tension. However, these boundaries do not signify divisions; rather, they represent “junctions” or “center points” that connect disparate memories, times, and spaces.

Kohei YAMADA’s paintings always begin with a luminous lemon-colored brushstroke reminiscent of radiant sunlight. Over this foundation, he layers diverse color fields, carefully constructing a unique sense of equilibrium within each composition. His works metaphorically express the organic light embedded within fragmented urban landscapes, revealing the latent presence of nature within rigid, industrialized surroundings. The geometric color fields embody the linear structures of modern cities, while the dominant reds and blues in his picture planes reflect the hues of the land and sea, respectively. Living between downtown Tokyo and its surrounding suburban areas, YAMADA contemplates the liminal space between urbanity and nature. He projects his own sense of identity onto the ambiguous landscapes that emerge between densely packed vertical and horizontal structures of the city and the encircling natural world. The borderlines that take shape as colors meet on his canvases serve as metaphors for these in-between spaces. The subtle tension between the opposing realms—separated only by a delicate membrane—creates a precarious yet mesmerizing paradox of harmony.

Kohei YAMADA was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1997. He earned a BFA in Painting from Musashino Art University in 2020 and an MFA in Fine Arts from Kyoto University of the Arts in 2022. He has held solo exhibitions at Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo, Japan, 2023), biscuit gallery (Tokyo, Japan, 2022), MtK Contemporary Art (Kyoto, Japan, 2022), and more. He has participated in group exhibitions at Mai 36 Galerie (Zurich, Switzerland, 2024), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan, 2024), Le Consortium (Dijon, France, 2024), ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL (Seoul, Korea, 2024), Taka Ishii Gallery Maebashi (Gunma, Japan, 2023), ARARIO GALLERY SHANGHAI (Shanghai, China, 2022), biscuit gallery (Tokyo, Japan, 2022), and more. In 2020, he received the CAF Award from the Contemporary Art Foundation in Japan.