artist reception: saturday may 3rd 2008 7-10pm

Los Angeles, CA - project: gallery is proud to announce, the upside of down, a solo exhibition from Japanese artist Yoskay Yamamoto. This will be the artist’s first solo exhibition, and will mark his largest body of work to date. The show represents a breakthrough in work from Yamamoto, and will reflect his most intimate statement of self-expression yet.

The concept for the upside of down is inspired by Yoskay Yamamoto’s own need to express his emotions, personality and frequent feeling of self-doubt. Yamamoto feels as if he is always in a battle with himself or his alter-ego known as “Inskay.” The Japanese word “Yo-“ translates to “light” while “In-“ refers to “dark,” which is where we find YO-skay and his internal struggle with IN-skay. As an artist and as a person, Yamamoto feels this constant struggle of light and dark within himself.

The works in his solo debut are a cohesive series of paintings that confronts both sides of this perpetual struggle between light and dark. The artistic techniques Yamamoto incorporates in his paintings echo this duality in his personality. While utilizing traditional Japanese patterns and techniques, Yamamoto also fuses American pop culture and illustrations into the work.

The emotion that Yamamoto pours into his work has turned him into one of the most buzz-worthy emerging artists working today. With shows booked into 2010 from New York to Los Angeles and Miami, and appearances coming at Art Basel, in Scion’s Installation Tour and even a designer vinyl toy releasing in the summer of 2008, Yamamoto is undoubtedly on a fast track to being a must own for any collector.

The show opens Saturday, May 3rd, 2008.
For preview information please contact the gallery.