OSAKA TIME 160cm x 107cm Acrylic on Board
Text from the Book
"Behind the Kimono"
"Behind the Kimono"
Decorative, cinematic and beguiling, Osaka Time simultaneously focuses on the wonderful visual effects of the city at night and modern icons “behind” the Kimono.
The painting primarily illustrates Andy’s visual fascination with coloured neon. It is not uncommon for him to wander and photo in the rain amongst the brightly lit areas of Tokyo’s Akihabara, Shinjuku or downtown Osaka enjoying the myriad transformations that, without an umbrella, often gets him strange looks! Andy says;
“Intense neon and rain gives a strange topsy-turvy orientation, the night gives way to day, reflected forms drift apart, dark silhouettes animate against the light and intense patches of colour flatten the perspective”
The painting’s rich background is punctuated by ethereal figures and cars and yet our predominant focus lies with the figure. Beautiful and alluring with her jet black hair and direct gaze, the precision of the painted geisha provides a brilliant contrast to the loosely worked background. Her figure, seemingly lit from behind by the neon lights, makes for an unworldly floating feeling.
For the Kimono, we see Andy’s repeated theme of nature merging with the city and tradition with modernity. Her Obi (belt) has been painted with striking white flowers, their organic forms acting as a stark contrast to the densely organised kimono, whose shapes appear to be inspired by electronic boards, all framed by the city.
The bold, bright and painterly techniques used for Osaka Time illustrates the painters versatility. To achieve the desired allusion of neon reflected in the rain required working loosely by pouring paint in different quantities and consistencies.
Andy says “ Osaka Time is primarily a decorative painting, with a subdued connecting narrative marrying tradition with modernity".
The painting primarily illustrates Andy’s visual fascination with coloured neon. It is not uncommon for him to wander and photo in the rain amongst the brightly lit areas of Tokyo’s Akihabara, Shinjuku or downtown Osaka enjoying the myriad transformations that, without an umbrella, often gets him strange looks! Andy says;
“Intense neon and rain gives a strange topsy-turvy orientation, the night gives way to day, reflected forms drift apart, dark silhouettes animate against the light and intense patches of colour flatten the perspective”
The painting’s rich background is punctuated by ethereal figures and cars and yet our predominant focus lies with the figure. Beautiful and alluring with her jet black hair and direct gaze, the precision of the painted geisha provides a brilliant contrast to the loosely worked background. Her figure, seemingly lit from behind by the neon lights, makes for an unworldly floating feeling.
For the Kimono, we see Andy’s repeated theme of nature merging with the city and tradition with modernity. Her Obi (belt) has been painted with striking white flowers, their organic forms acting as a stark contrast to the densely organised kimono, whose shapes appear to be inspired by electronic boards, all framed by the city.
The bold, bright and painterly techniques used for Osaka Time illustrates the painters versatility. To achieve the desired allusion of neon reflected in the rain required working loosely by pouring paint in different quantities and consistencies.
Andy says “ Osaka Time is primarily a decorative painting, with a subdued connecting narrative marrying tradition with modernity".
Further Night Photos by Andy