Artist: Masanori Tomita
Exhibition title: Lamella
Venue: High Art, Paris, France
Date: June 8 – July 22, 2023
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and High Art, Paris
It slipped and was caught
It appeared because it came off Connected, then interrupted
Hidden or exchanged
Sometimes not bitten while drinking Sometimes drinking without biting Becomes the prey for the eyes
Serves as a supplement for the stomach
There is a place where whispers are heard comfortably
The absence of commotion in front leaves something behind
Something rich passes through the throat and suddenly disappears Something light transforms into a part of heaviness
Overlap and become softer
Sometimes, when swaying, it becomes rigid
There is too much difference, and balance is maintained Ideas when adjustments cannot be made
When something is caught, something is released
It is an act of moving a little
It cannot remain still.
“Lamella, I slipped through the cracks and came here.”
The phrase “ラメラ” (Lamella) in the original Japanese expression doesn’t have a clear subject and can be interpreted as a word that represents the act of slipping through the cracks and coming here, rather than something or someone doing it.
However, when translating, the addition of the pronoun “I” in English (“I slipped through the cracks and came here, Lamella”) doesn’t feel completely out of place.
“Moving back and forth, distorting and changing form, a scenery that moves by repeating and vibrating extensively—I swam through all of that, all of it, all of it…”
Conveniently or inconveniently surrounded by interruptions and connections, Bouncing back and responding, while soaking in it,
The choices seem to increase as you notice,
Only to disappear at times,
And go somewhere else.
– Masanori Tomita
Masanori Tomita’s immersive paintings encapsulate the essence of everyday experiences with remarkable precision and empathetic attention. His artworks can be seen as fragmented expressions, atomized and delicately crafted to capture the nuances of quotidian life. Through his artistic process, Tomita amalgamates layers upon layers of visual elements, creating a living cosmos of accumulated imagery, perpetual regurgitation, and intentional construction. If there is a discernable path from perception to expression, then there is no doubt Tomita is an artist fated to explore it thoroughly, obsessively mapping a detailed topography of the terrain between that which we optically sense and that which we emotionally feel. His creative practice encompasses various mediums, including producing notes, sketches, manga, and painting. These diverse outlets allow him to transmute what he describes as “scraps of things from the clutter” into captivating and dramatic scenic routes that narrate lived experiences.
Masanori Tomita was born on 1989 in Kumamoto, Japan, he lives and works in Saitama, Japan. Recent solo exhibitions include: Kayokoyuki, Tokyo; Turner Gallery, Tokyo. Recent group exhibitions include: High Art Arles; Parliament, Paris; SHOP Taka Ishii Gallery, Hong Kong; Satoshi Ohno Studio, Yamanashi; Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyo; Space Wunderkammer, Tokyo.
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, exhibition view, High Art, Paris
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, Oil, resin and ink on cotton mounted on wood panel 80.3 x 65.2 cm / 31 5/8 x 25 5/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Lamella, 2023, Oil, resin and ink on cotton mounted on wood panel 80.3 x 65.2 cm / 31 5/8 x 25 5/8 in
Masanori Tomita, 栗頭 / Chestnut Head, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 162.5 x 130.5 cm / 64 x 51 3/8 in
Masanori Tomita, 栗頭 / Chestnut Head, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 162.5 x 130.5 cm / 64 x 51 3/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Horn, 2023, Oil on canvas, 194.3 x 130.5 cm / 76 1/2 x 51 3/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Horn, 2023, Oil on canvas, 194.3 x 130.5 cm / 76 1/2 x 51 3/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Yoyo, 2023, Oil and resin on cotton mounted on wood panel, 41 x 32.3 cm / 16 1/8 x 12 3/4 in
Masanori Tomita, Crawl, 2023, Oil on canvas, 145 x 145 cm / 57 1/8 x 57 1/8 in
Masanori Tomita Lump, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 100 x 74 cm / 39 3/8 x 29 1/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Prop, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 131 x 98 cm / 51 5/8 x 38 5/8 in
Masanori Tomita, 半身 / Hemicorpus, 2023 Oil and resin on canvas, 91.5 x 73.4 cm / 36 x 28 7/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Plate, 2023, Oil on canvas, 50.2 x 35.7 cm / 19 3/4 x 14 in
Masanori Tomita, Plow, 2023, Oil on cotton mounted on wood panel 53.3 x 45.8 cm / 21 x 18 in
Masanori Tomita, Nod, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 130.7 x 97.3 cm / 51 1/2 x 38 1/4 in
Masanori Tomita, Nod, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 130.7 x 97.3 cm / 51 1/2 x 38 1/4 in
Masanori Tomita, Knob, 2023, Oil and resin on canvas, 45.2 x 37.5 cm / 17 3/4 x 14 3/4 in
Masanori Tomita, Broom, 2023, Oil on wood panel, 65.2 x 53 cm / 25 5/8 x 20 7/8 in
Masanori Tomita, Broom, 2023, Oil on wood panel, 65.2 x 53 cm / 25 5/8 x 20 7/8 in