Dealer Spotlight: Koichi Hara of Japonesque

EEE:  I am here with Koichi Hara of Japonesque from San Francisco who is exhibiting here for the first time.  What brought you to the International Show?

Koichi Hara:  Originally I showed at the Haughton’s International Asian Art Show here in New York, and 2008 was the last one. I have wonderful clients here and it’s nice to stay connected to the East Coast.  Also, Izumi Masatoshi, one of our artists is exhibiting eight pieces at the LongHouse in East Hampton.  So we always have relations with the East Coast.

You are renowned for mixing works of all periods and style.

I think it is easy to do one category, but I like the ability to understand the aesthetic of old and the new.  We can learn from the old piece and find excitement in the new.  When you combine them, a very interesting energy comes out that you can’t get with just the old or just the new. 

Your installation is beautiful.  Did you have an inspiration or start with one piece as a focal point?

We call it shitsurai - - things are not so much important.  It’s about the relation between the person and things, and if you treat things special, you need space around them.  It is a respect to special things -- which was a challenge since we have a small space here!  The shipping people were shocked at how we were able to get everything in!

A red gouache ground reveals itself underneath a layer of black graphite on this finely carved screen

Everything here is special, but what is one highlight of your stand?

This carved wood, red gouache and pencil graphite work.  It’s not just black and white, but behind the black there is a wonderful red hidden, like the blood in our bodies.  So it’s kind of interesting.  It’s monochrome, yet it’s not monochrome.  As the light changes, the painting changes – it’s between sculpture and painting. It’s difficult to appreciate the power of this piece immediately, you have to live with it and observe it over time.

Are there things you could never sell?

Everything I’ve liked I’ve liked to sell.  Very important. 

the photograph of the fragile Buddha which stays perrmanently presserved on paper

You don’t have an attachment…

No attachment.  Over here we have a photograph of a Buddha.  Many people liked this Buddha sculpture in our gallery, but it was so fragile.  Then we had an idea to photograph it and it is beautifully destroyed, but not destroyed. 

Very clever!  And now everyone can enjoy it.

Exactly.