Year: 2022
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimensions: 73.3 x 91.1 cm (28 7/8 x 35 7/8 in.)
Acquired from Mizuma Art Gallery, 2022
Bears and mushrooms with ears that are often appeared in many Eguchi’s works are in this work. While the first impression of this work would be the toy-like creatures playing harmoniously with each other, the title “The fang” gives a feeling of something much sharper. Upon closer look, the mouths of the two characters facing each other become visible in the center of the painting and with sharp teeth lined up in a zigzag pattern. As both of their mouths are wide open, it indicates that the atmosphere is not calm. When one notices that the opposing figures facing each other are baring their fangs, the sense of gentleness suddenly changes to a sharp tension. The artistic effect that seemed fluffy also look stiffer. The multi-layered background has whitish glaze on the surface with some organic line-drawings and mushroom-shaped objects behind. The original color development is visible on the edge of the painting as there is no white layer covering it. The pale white also seems to mask their (and our) hidden violence. It is a painting of the ambivalence of life and death.
