hpgrp gallery is pleased to present

Kimiko Fukuoka

With abstract paintings created from kindness and warmth,
this female Japanese artist seeks to
better communications between people with her artwork.

Opening Wine Reception:

Wednesday, February 20, 6-8pm
Running until Sunday, March 2, 2008.

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hpgrp gallery New York
32-36 Little West 12th Street
2nd Floor
(between Ninth Avenue & Washington Street)
New York, NY 10014
212-727-2491
www.hpgrpgallery.com

Gallery Hours:
Tue-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

(Closing March 2 at 3pm)

Subway:
A, C, E, L to 14th Street at 8th Avenue

Buses:
M14 (9th Avenue at 14th Street)
M20 (8th Avenue Abington Street)
M11 (Bethune/Hudson Street)

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Our sister boutique destination
on the ground floor is currently hosting
SHOW & SELL: The $99 Art Fair, our popular series.

http://going.com/99ArtFair

SHOW & SELL Call to Artists:
http://going.com/99ArtFairArtists

destination's sale: All clothing is 50% off!
http://going.com/destinationsale

Enjoy destination's new ground floor gallery space while shopping.

Artist's Statement:

Living in New York for the past six years, I've been creating art for more than ten years. When I first started painting, for the first two years I only painted the human form and portraits. I was drawing and painting everyday, looking for something through capturing the human form, perhaps looking for myself. Through this daily practice, my skills improved greatly, and I began to question what I wanted to describe through the human form, what concepts and feelings I wanted to capture through my art.

One day I suddenly developed an interest in abstraction, but without the comforts of reality, without recognizing myself in the process, I was very confused about how to proceed. Since abstraction is very personal, my imagination and sensitivities became unchained, and while initially confusing, abstraction offered a certain freedom I came to appreciate.

When I began creating abstraction, at first I focused on people, how they are sometimes strong, sometimes weak, and I was drawn to the concepts of warmth and kindness. Very slowly through observing everyday life, from looking at the sky, trees, flowers, birds and bugs, I concentrated more on what surrounded me. Opening myself up to nature brought me closer to the solution of what I wanted to communicate through my artwork.

I am most interested in communications between people and becoming comfortable with others and my natural surroundings. The most important concept in my artwork is how I and others can feel excited. I aim to create paintings that make people feel excited about being alive, because if people try to understand each other, it produces positive things. I am always thankful for these connections.

- Kimiko Fukuoka

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