Designed by ©︎Toshiki Koike

Special Exhibition

Enrico Isamu Oyama Solo Exhibition: VIRAL

May 18, 2019 (Sat) － Mar 22, 2020 (Sun)

Venue: Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
Organized by: Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
In Cooperation with: Takuro Someya Contemporary Art, CMIC Holdings Co., Ltd.

The Nakamura Keith Haring Collection presented VIRAL, a solo exhibition by Enrico Isamu Ōyama, an artist based in Brooklyn, New York.
Born in Tokyo in 1983 to an Italian father and a Japanese mother, Oyama’s artistic approach is deeply influenced by the aerosol writing (graffiti) culture of marking names on subway walls and other urban spaces. Since moving to the U.S. in 2012, Oyama has developed his distinctive motif, Quick Turn Structure, which abstracts the visual language of graffiti by removing textual elements and focusing on the movement of lines. His work has been exhibited in murals and solo shows worldwide. Additionally, Ōyama has published Against Literacy: On Graffiti Culture (LIXIL Publishing, 2015) and collaborated with brands like Comme des Garçons and shu uemura.
Regarding the title VIRAL, Oyama explains:
“While the term ‘virus’ carries negative connotations of infection, ‘viral’ in the context of social media evokes notions of dissemination, speed, and even positivity as something shared and popularized. In today’s world, where digital imagination has shifted from hardware resembling the body to software such as cloud services and applications resembling the natural environment, the connotations of ‘viral’ are also transforming—from something invasive and harmful to something embodying vitality and self-organizing growth within (artificial) nature. This exhibition seeks to reinterpret the threat of viruses as the generative power of virality and reframe it as vitality—the very energy of life itself.”
The exhibition primarily featured paintings representing a diverse array of techniques and compositions, including monochromatic gradients, varying scales, textured layers, and complex arrangements. The centerpiece of the show was a site-specific mural created for the museum’s Path to Freedom, layered over archival photographs of Keith Haring’s work in Tokyo. This new mural highlighted the exhibition’s theme of life-affirming expansion and interconnectedness across time and space. Oyama views Quick Turn Structure as a viral icon capable of adapting and dialoguing with different media and environments while maintaining a strong identity. Through his persistent practice, he describes his art as living its own life. This vitality resonates with Keith Haring’s proliferative and life-affirming drawings, creating a timeless synergy.

Enrico Isamu Oyama

An artist recognized for reinterpreting the visual language of aerosol writing through his Quick Turn Structure motif, Ōyama has gained significant attention in the contemporary art scene with his murals and paintings. Born in Tokyo in 1983, he continues to expand his practice globally.
https://enricoisamuoyama.net

1. Presentation of the new work FFIGURATI #184

The title FFIGURATI is a coined term combining graffiti and the Italian phrase figùra ti (meaning “shape it yourself”). Quick Turn Structure (QTS), the abstract motif that defines Oyama’s art, serves as a consistent element across his works. However, FFIGURATI refers to individual pieces created using diverse mediums and techniques, each distinguished by a unique number.FFIGURATI #184 is a painting that originated as a live painting piece at the Jane Lombard Gallery in New York in June 2017. It was later further developed in Oyama’s studio, with additional QTS elements incorporated to complete the work.

2. A 14-Meter Mural Unveiled in the Hallway Leading to the Gallery

In the museum’s hallway, archival photographs documenting Keith Haring’s mural creation in Jingu-mae, Tokyo, in 1983 are collaged across the walls. For this exhibition, Ōyama has created an enormous 14-meter mural that stretches across the photomontage, seamlessly blending his dynamic Quick Turn Structure with Haring’s historic legacy.

3. Presented Alongside Keith Haring’s Works

Keith Haring, a leading figure in 1980s American art, is well-represented in the museum’s collection, which includes approximately 300 of his works. During the exhibition period, the museum will also be hosting the collection exhibition Keith Haring: Humanism. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to view the works of these two artists, who share many common threads, including their connection to New York, the streets, and dynamic lines, all in one space.

Photo by ©︎Shu Nakagawa

Event 1

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2019
Artist Enrico Isamu Oyama will provide a guided explanation of his works, followed by a live painting session.

Photo by ©︎Shu Nakagawa

Event 2

Date: Saturday, May 25, 2019
Details: A guided gallery tour led by artist Enrico Isamu Oyama and Tamami Iizuka, curator of the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection.

​​Event 3

Date: Sunday, November 3, 2019
Details: Following the awards ceremony, artist Enrico Isamu Oyama will host a workshop titled Express Yourself Through Your Name, encouraging participants to explore self-expression using their names as a motif.

Event 4

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2019
Details: A special talk to commemorate the publication of UBIQUITOUS: Enrico Isamu Oyama and VIRAL: Enrico Isamu Oyama.
Speakers: Enrico Isamu Oyama
Moderator: Takuya Nakao (Art Critic)
Theme: Diffusion, Transversality, Embodiment, and Form