Junpei Ori
There’s a sweet simplicity to Japanese artist Junpei Ori’s work – where flat, geometric shapes as thin as paper float in the foreground as if dancing, but there’s also a lot of depth. Layers of oil paint build up to make rich, textured backgrounds that draw you deep into the scene. Between the two, it’s a very inviting style – playful and whimsical with much for the eye to see. In fact, the effect is a lot like a mobile, which the artist also makes: 2D objects in 3D space.
The Tokyo-based artist has been making these works for a number of years, having initially studied at Musashino Art University in Japan, and is clearly influenced by collage and abstract painting, but also design and furniture itself – Alvar Aalto’s pieces for Artek an obvious example. By breaking down recognisable everyday objects and scenes, using a mixture of paint and paper, vibrant colours along side earthy tones, blocks of flatness and moments of texture, Ori’s style is all his own – nodding at once to all collage, still-life and abstract painting, as well as Scandinavian aesthetic itself. There’re a lot we’re drawn to here, but mainly, it’s the over-all tone of the work – relaxing and quietly dynamic.
Credits: Flickr: Junpei Ori and Kitka
