Whitestone Gallery is thrilled to announce its inaugural space in mainland China, located in Beijing's renowned 798 Art District, on May 27, 2023. Nestled within the city's vibrant art and cultural hub, Whitestone Gallery aims to deliver a series of thoughtfully curated exhibitions in the days to come. Our vision is to serve as a bridge, fostering a profound connection between art and individuals while facilitating meaningful artistic exchanges across regions.

Titled "We Love China", our grand opening exhibition is a powerful expression of Whitestone Gallery's commitment to spreading love through art and establishing meaningful connections with local art communities. For this momentous occasion, we have invited over 40 collaborating artists to create new representative works for this exhibition alongside a series of masterpieces from the gallery collection. Towards the opening exhibition, CEO of Whitestone Gallery Koei Shiraishi states: "I envision a future where many artists love and respect China, while the people of China show love for the artists and their work." Over the past 56 years, Whitestone Gallery has been dedicated to promoting post-war Japanese and contemporary art. The grand opening exhibition will proudly showcase works that reflect the richness and diversity of Japanese art history, introducing artists with immense potential in our time. The exhibition unfolds in two parts. From May 27 to June 17, the exhibition's first part focuses on influential members from significant art movements in the post-war era, as well as distinguished artists from the second and third generations following WWII. Then, from June 24 to July 15, the second part will focus on the vibrant vitality and boundless creativity of the new generation of artists.

Part 1 of this seminal exhibition illuminates the transformative impact of prominent art movements, including Gutai, Art Informel, Mono-ha, and Hi-Red-Centre, while delving into the profound societal shifts that swept Japan in the wake of WWII. During this remarkable period of artistic exploration, a cohort of ground-breaking artists shattered the confines of tradition, embracing bold techniques and unconventional materials to forge new frontiers in art. Among the celebrated Gutai artists, Kazuo Shiraga harnessed the power of his own body to paint, Atsuko Tanaka mesmerized audiences with her luminous "electric dress" composed of light bulbs, and Shozo Shimamoto hurled glass bottles brimming with vivid pigments onto canvas, producing captivating expressions of raw energy. The indomitable Yayoi Kusama, an iconic figure in the Japanese art world, harnessed the concept of infinity to create works pulsating with eternal vitality, leaving an indelible imprint on future generations of artists.

Part 1 of the exhibition also unveils the artistic contributions of the second and third generations of post-war artists, who skillfully incorporated the distinctive spirit of their times into their creations. Renowned Hokkaido-born artist Kazuharu Hanada, representing the second generation, employs flat planes of vibrant color to portray landscapes teeming with captivating narratives. At the same time, Yoshitomo Nara captures the essence of innocence and adult emotions through his endearing depictions of cherubic girls. Embracing a more global perspective, the third generation of post-war artists explores unrestrained modes of artistic expression. Miwa Komatsu seamlessly fuses formal elements with painting, conjuring spiritual fauna on her canvases. At the same time, Etsu Egami delves into the theme of miscommunication, unraveling captivating visual narratives through her distinctive creations.

In an exciting tribute to cross-cultural exchange, the grand opening exhibition showcases the works of exceptional international artists. Florentijn Hofman, revered for his monumental public art installations, will captivate visitors with smaller renditions of his iconic giant yellow duck, transcending boundaries of scale and whimsy. Drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese ink paintings of the Song Dynasty, Yang Yongliang seamlessly melds digital technology with ancient aesthetics, conjuring mesmerizing imagery of dystopian landscapes. Chinese artist Jiang Miao mesmerizes with her exquisite acrylic paintings adorned with intricate carvings, while Wu Shuang employs vibrant hues and luminous lights as her medium, crafting ethereal visual narratives. Finally, Chen Yingjie, a masterful painter, breathes life into traditional Chinese symbols, deftly capturing the grace of lions, dragons, and majestic snow-capped mountains. These exceptional talents, alongside other ground-breaking artists, converge within the hallowed walls of Whitestone Gallery, igniting an extraordinary exchange of styles and unleashing boundless creative energies.

Part 2 of this extraordinary exhibition delves into the boundless vitality and captivating creativity of the new generation of artists, echoing the pioneering ethos of the Gutai movement - "do what has never been done before." These daring visionaries fearlessly embrace unconventional mediums and themes, forging their distinctive artistic identities. Yu Kawashima deftly weaves traditional Japanese painting materials into contemporary imagery, infusing each piece with a powerful personal touch. Karen Shiozawa, painting on wooden boards, seeks to evoke images that resonate with profound auditory experiences. Masayuki Tsubota, interested in his exploration of wood as a medium, craft works adorned with evocative colors that tantalize the senses. Part 2 of the exhibition provides a captivating window into the latest creations of over 20 remarkable artists, showcasing these contemporary innovators' extraordinary diversity and ingenuity.