Yasuo SUMI: Autonomy Through Mess

This presentation of Yasuo Sumi's works at the Whitestone Gallery is the first solo exhibition of his work in Hong Kong. When preparations began, even the artist himself had no inkling that his life would come to an end before the exhibition took place. Looking back at the various stages and events in his careers - the providential encounter with GUTAI, the fortuitous discovery of a painting technique using an abacus, the unplanned involvement in contemporary art stemming from an implusive decision to enter his work in an exhibition selection process, the subsequent developments that took his art activities around the world - it is abndantly clear that at every stage Yasuo Sumi's approach to art entailed thoroughly enjoying whatever happene to him. Sumi seemed to be saying that if you want to entertain people, you need to start by having fun yourself. At a time when Japan's prevailing way of thinking saw salvation in hard work and target-setting, and applied that thinking to the field of art, Sumi's motto was "yakekuso fumajime, charanporan" (desperation, absense of seriousness, irresponsibility). With this stance, Sumi punched a large hole in the conventional way on thinking. His approach never faded, remaining fresh throughout his ouvre. And now, though this exhibition, we can see the tracks of Yasuo Sumi's spirit dancing freely and wildly over the paper. It is with the greatest pleasure that I am able to share that experience.' (Abstract from Foreword by Hirohisa Sumi, director of Eternal Art Sumi)