Year: 2022
Medium: acrylic on paper
Dimensions: 31.8 x 23.8 cm (12 1/2 x 9 3/8 in)
Acquired from Taka Ishii Gallery, 2022
Gokita is internationally known for his semi-abstract monochrome portraits. However, in his 2014 solo exhibition “THE GREAT CIRCUS” (Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art, Chiba, Japan), he presented abstract works using watercolor and acrylic paint. It shows his extremely broad expressions from figurative representation with lines to geometric abstraction with colorful surface. The exact intent behind the title “Miami” in this work is open to interpretation, but it is layered with deep reddish-purple strokes on a warm orange base color. The remarkable handwriting of the line depictions resembles calligraphy, and it leaves an impression of the hand practice and handwork of Gokita. In his paintings, letters play a significant role, and one can find the similarities between these handwritings (which can also be called “brushstrokes” in paintingly terms) and this work. For example, in his first drawing collection book, “LINGERIE WRESTLING” (published in 2000), letters are superimposed on many illustrations. However, the expression that letters are sometimes deviated from their image and transformed into freewheeling line drawings. In this work, the strokes are painted more pictorially, but the line drawings are even richer when they are traced to the expression of lines that developed from the letters in his illustrative period. While the shades of reddish purple are scattered well-balanced throughout the entire paper, the density in the center is made denser and darker. Upon a closer look, there are slight white highlights blended in thinly, which creates a deep sense of space in this small composition.
