Artist Introduction

My theoretical approach to painting and drawing

Keisuke Naito

It took me quite some time to come to the conclusion that conceptual art is the correlation between notions, actions, and existence.

I also considered conceptual art to be merely a means of expression, primarily for the expression of individuality. Although the act of drawing begins as a sensory-driven process, my work does not truly take shape unless I allow the logic of those notions to run alongside it.

I submit a rejected painting to another competition. Under the same judges, it wins an excellence award.

A work that was rejected 10 years ago wins an award at a new competition.

Had the world caught up with me? Was I simply waiting for my time?

I gained a little more confidence. Now, 50 years later, I’ve been left behind.

Time repeats in a spiral, so I’ll wait for the moment when the world appreciates me once again.

I have no idea what young people are drawing these days. That’s something we were often told when we were young. Differences in perception due to generational differences and the passage of time are unavoidable. However, among contemporary artists, there are quite a few whose works I find deeply moving. If you look closely, you’ll see that the artists skillfully use drawing techniques based on conceptual logic rather than intuition. And yet, the artists themselves have no knowledge of the history of conceptual art. These days, conceptual art has become like underwear that we wear unconsciously. There are also some self-important artists who wear no underwear at all.