Jun Imamura

Born in Kyoto City, Japan

BFA (Summa Cum Laude); Hunter College, The City University of New York 
MFA, Tokyo University of the Arts
Ph.D. in Literature

Scholarship and Grants:
2007 Artist Fellowship Vermont Studio Center,
Vermont, the United States

2023 Solo Show “Brutal”
Hikari Home, Tokyo, Japan

2022 Solo Show “Endangered”
Gallery Storks, Tokyo, Japan

2020 Solo Show “Painting 2020”
Gallery Storks, Tokyo, Japan

2019 Solo Show “Guardians”
Shoga Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2018 Solo Show “12 gaze”
Nakagawa Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2016 Paper “Form and Coexistence: The Life of Berg's Opera Lulu”
Alban Berg [16], Alban Berg Gesellschaft, Japan

2014 Special Exhibition for the 20th Annual Meeting of the Art Education Studies
The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan

2012 Solo Show “2010/4/03 Wien”
Zap Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Group Show “GTS Art Project”
Shitamachi Base, Tokyo, Japan

2007 BFA Degree Show
The Bertha and Karl Leubsdorf Art Gallery,
New York, the United States
Open Studio “Tokyo Blue”
Hunter College MFA Building, New York, the United States

2006 Solo Show “Red Paintings”
New York Public Library, 96th Street Branch and Aguilar Branch,
New York, the United States
Open Studio “Digital Cell Phone Paintings”
Hunter College MFA Building, New York, the United States

2000 Philip Morris Art Award 2000
Yebisu Garden Place, Tokyo, Japan

1999 The 28th Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Kyoto Municipal Museum, Japan
The 9th Art Box Exhibition
Art Museum Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

1993 Awarded “The Mark Kostabi Competition Grand Prize”
Worked in collaboration with Mark Kostabi, Tokyo, Japan

1992 The 2nd Art Box Exhibition
Azabu Museum of Art and Crafts, Tokyo, Japan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Image Painting

In my work, I collect images from digital technology, such as computers, digital cameras, and cellphones.

I print out these images with an ink-jet printer and paint over them with oils. In this process I do not draw

any drafts of the pictures but focus on collecting images I respond to the images and humanize them with

my actions. My identity is formalized by these "otherness" and is visualized by my brushstrokes.

This is my way to communicate with others using digital technology and to live in the digital world.

In my projector works, I keep projecting Digital Image Painting. This magnified surface of the painting

clearly shows viewers my life (brushstroke) itself which stands on digitalized society.

 

12 gaze

12 gaze belongs to Digital Image Painting.

I paint 12 variations from one image.

They are completed in short time and are combined as a set.

Although these 12 pieces are composed by using the same colors, the same brushes and the same process,

they have different brush-strokes which represent a human quality.

This action regards to live in society, in the world, and in the universe.

The form of 12 gaze expresses co-existence with others in the universal cycle of time and space which is composed

of the number 12.

These variations and sequences represent love of differences which consist of a mutual thing in

natural and human conditions.

In doing so I know I echo-exist with my guardians (others) who I paint.