The Art of Sushi and Sake
ICHIRO UEHARA - Artist Searching for Answers

By Nancy Uyemura

Since his youth Ichiro Uehara traveled to and from Spain and Europe, searching for the answers to such questions as – “What is Art?” and “Who Am I?” Perhaps these are common coming of age questions or questions that young artists ask themselves as they begin their journey in art, in life. Since that time, more than forty years have passed and Uehara has traveled more, created more art and lived a lot more life. He has built a Museum/Gallery space with his bare hands and continued to paint and travel showing his work both in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. The following is his statement about his amazing journey.

“Creating poems, pictures and architectural material using just about anything around me, has been a great delight ever since I was a boy. I remember feeling very good creating art and changing my sadness and worries into pictures and objects."

“I have spent my 20s going back and forth between Europe and Japan. My challenge in the U.S. started in my 40s, actively participating in art shows. Then in my 50’s I spent 2 years constructing 'ART SPACE ONE MODERN ART MUSEUM' (by myself) and in 2001 at Izu Kogen, we held our first Art Camp. (Art Camp, is an art festival where artists from various countries spend time together creating art, and also visitors can participate in discussions with the artists.)”

“I believe that Art is not something that we have learned posteriori, but forms or colors in our minds created through the rhythm and harmony of the universe. Art Work is a creation by nature itself, and, Art is the language of the universe".

“I put the Plane of Construction into practice to demonstrate this language. I hope that Art Space One will contribute to the development of Art and Cultural unity between various countries.

I will be very content if we can share this dream together.”

Thank you, Ichiro Uehara.

Uehara’s work is bold and powerful, using black and red pigment on white washi, he creates movement that is reminiscent of nature itself. It is honest. He has dug deep within his soul to search for the meaning of his existence and he creates the work with his sub-conscious. It is a scary journey on one hand but on the other, a very curious and expansive one. He stretches the limits of his own expectations for himself and hopes that whatever lies within will surface and bring some new meaning to his own self-discovery.

Currently, you can see Uehara’s work at Gallery R23. Which is located right next to the Japanese Restaurant R23 (enter through the restaurant and someone will let you into the gallery). We are fortunate enough to be able to experience Ichiro’s work in this beautiful setting. It is as though the work was made for the space.

Ichiro’s work seems to raise any space it occupies to another level and there is a spiritual transformation that takes place. The artist has brought the viewer into his world and for a moment transports them to a higher plane. For more information about the work or the Gallery you may contact Jake S. Oota Art Connection at (213) 675-9960.

The Gallery is open during regular restaurant hours and you enter through the restaurant. You may also make arrangements to visit the gallery or schedule a private party by appointment. The restaurant and gallery are open M-F 11:30 – 2 (lunch) M-Sat. 5:30 – 10 (dinner) and closed on Sunday. (213) 687-7178
R23 Japanese Restaurant and Art Gallery is located at 923 E. 2nd St.
Suite 109, Los Angeles, Ca 90013

When visiting the gallery, if you have time, stop for wonderful sushi and sake at the restaurant R23, for those of you who have not experienced the cuisine at R23 you are in for a treat. The sushi and sake are as good as anywhere here or in Japan and the cooked dishes are superb. The food is as good as the art and the art is powerful and filled with the spirit of Ichiro Uehara.

Those of you are lucky enough to visit Japan take the opportunity to make the trip to Izu, stop by and say hello to Ichiro and see the amazing Museum that he has built. It is in the woods in an area where you can see the Pacific Ocean on one side and Mt. Fuji on the other. It is about an hour and forty minutes just south of Tokyo by train. The seafood and hot springs are great and the people will warm your heart. Ichiro has picked the perfect spot for his dream and we are grateful that he has invited us to share it with him.

art space one
IZU-KOGEN ART MUSEUM
http://www.art-s1.net



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