Vivid Strata: New Representations of Asia II: Yayoi Kusama, Jia Aili, Firoz Mahmud, Qin Qi, Nobuaki Takekawa, Baek Jin Sook and Yeesookyung

Ota Fine Arts is delighted to present "Vivid Strata: New Representations of Asia II", a summer group exhibition featuring a host of artists who are at the forefront of shaping new ways of envisioning themselves and their region. On display are new paintings and drawings by Yayoi Kusama, Jia Aili, Firoz Mahmud, Qin Qi, Nobuaki Takekawa, Baek Jin Sook and Yeesookyung.

Yayoi Kusama
Well known for her use of dense patterns of polka dots and nets, as well as her intense, large-scale environments, Yayoi Kusama works in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, performance, and immersive installation. Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama came to the United States in 1957 and quickly found herself at the epicenter of the New York avant-garde. After achieving fame through groundbreaking exhibitions and happenings, she returned to her native country in1973 and is now one of Japan's most prominent contemporary artists. The largest retrospective dedicated to Kusama toured the Reina Sofia, Madrid (2011); Centre Pompidou, Paris (2011); Tate Modern, London (2012); and opened at the Whitney Museum, New York on 12 July 2012. At the same time her Louis Vuitton line was unveiled and designed in collaboration with creative director Marc Jacobs. Her tour will continue throughout museums in Asia and South America from 2013 to 2015.

Jia Aili
Born in Liaoning, China in 1979, Jia Aili completed his BA and MA in oil painting at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Art, Shenyang. The Beijing-based painter is now one of the most exciting emerging artists in his generation, having developed work that reflects the concerns of his contemporaries through the surreal and futuristic. Notable solo exhibitions include "Seeker of Hope: Works by Jia Aili" at the Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2012) and "Make Believe..." at Iniva (Institute of International Visual Art), London, UK (2010). He has also been included in international group exhibitions such as "Ctrl+N: Non-Linear Practice", Gwangju Museum of Art, Korea (2012); "CAFAM • Future", CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China (2012); "Simon Franks and Rob Suss Collection", Saatchi Gallery, London, UK (2009); and "The Third Guangzhou Triennial", Guangdong Art Museum, Guangzhou, China (2008).

Firoz Mahmud
Born in Khulna, Bangladesh in 1974, Firoz Mahmud completed his BFA and MFA at the Dhaka University's Institute of Fine Arts before attaining a PHD in Fine Arts from the Tokyo University of the Arts. Mahmud has completed residencies at the Rijksakademie VBK, Amsterdam, and the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York. His paintings and installations examine the socio-political culture, tradition, history, myths and pop culture of his native land. Mahmud's most notable works have been featured in group exhibitions at "Aichi Triennale 2010: Arts and Cities", Aichi, Japan (2010); "The 9th Sharjah Biennial" (2009); and "The 11th International Cairo Biennale" (2008).

Qin Qi
Born in Shanxi, China in 1975, Qin Qi completed his BA and MA in oil painting at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Art, Shenyang, where he currently lives and works. Qin's work adapts the traditional Western still life and landscape genres to the Chinese context. Notable solo exhibitions include "Oxidation: New works By Qin Qi" at 01100001 Space, Beijing, China (2012) and "Chairs Can Save Lives" at the Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China (2011). He has also been included in international group exhibitions such as "Fly Through the Troposphere: Memo of the New Generation Painting", Iberia Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China (2011); "Prague Biennale 4", Prague, Czech Republic (2009); and "The Third Guangzhou Triennial", Guangdong Art Museum, Guangzhou, China (2008).

Nobuaki Takekawa
Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1977, Nobuaki Takekawa received his BA in oil painting at the Tokyo University of the Arts in 2002. Takekawa divulges many of his personal experiences in his work, while interweaving them jocular comments on current events and cultural history. He has held seven solo exhibitions at Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo and participated in notable group exhibitions including "12th Biennale de Lyon", Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon, Lyon, France (2013) and "Real Japanesque: The Unique World of Japanese Contemporary Art", the National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan (2012).

Baek Jin Sook
Born in Seoul, Korea in 1973, Baek Jin Sook received her BA in oriental painting at the Duk-Sung Women's University and subsequently an MA in Korean painting at the Chung-Ang University the Graduate School of Art. Her delicate, expressive work is indebted to traditional Korean ink painting, with subjects taken from everyday life. Baek has exhibited at group exhibitions such as "The Aesthetics of the Fold", GONG Art Space, Seoul, Korea and "Contemporary Transformation in Korean Painting", Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Centre, Seoul, Korea.

Yeesookyung
Born in Seoul, Korea in 1963, Yeesookyung studied painting at the College of Fine Arts of the National University in Seoul, where she continues to develop her well-known ceramic "Translated Vases" series, as well as diverse works on paper, silk scrolls, large installations, video and performance. She has completed residencies at Villa Arson, Apex Art and the Bronx Museum, and her work has been shown globally at the 6th Gwangju Biennale (2006); the 5th Liverpool Biennial (2008); the 2009 Vancouver Biennale; the 2010 Busan Biennale; and the 18th Biennale of Sydney (2012). Most recently, Yeesookyung has been featured in notable recent exhibitions including "Women In-Between: Asian Women Artists 1984-2012" at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (2012); the "2012 Korea Art Prize" at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul (2012); "Korea Eye 2012" at the Saatchi Gallery (2012); and "The Collectors Show: Weight of History" at the Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2013).