Research Reports Also on Display

Yasuka Goto's work 'Empty revolver on desk' has been gaining significant attention, having received the 'Koji Kinutani Prize' last year, which supports young painters and explores the potential of figurative painting, as well as the 'Sakuya Konohana Prize' for contributions to Osaka's culture.

The exhibition presents a triptych, each painting measuring 212 cm in height and 430 cm in width, depicting three botanists of different nationalities who worked together at the Shonan Botanical Garden (now the Singapore Botanic Gardens) during the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945. This monumental work was first exhibited at 'ART STAGE SINGAPORE 13', one of Asia's largest art fairs, held in Singapore in January of this year, and this solo exhibition marks its debut in Japan.

Born in Hiroshima in 1982, Goto has been drawn to the strength of those who survived the harsh realities of wartime, inspired by the war experiences of her grandfather and relatives since childhood, and has focused on this theme in her work. In recent years, she has also gained recognition for 'Yuka-sho: Original Size', which meticulously researched and focused on young people working at the site of the former Osaka Namura Shipbuilding yard.

The figures depicted in 'Empty revolver on desk' are Dr. Hiroshi Gunji, a Japanese national; Dr. E. J. H. Corner, a British national; and Arthur Alfonso, a Japanese-Singaporean assistant. The painting captures these men who collaborated beyond enemy lines and nationality to protect the botanical garden.

Most of the production time was dedicated to meticulous research, with the paintings executed dynamically and swiftly using ink. Additionally, the exhibition will feature research reports from Goto's visit to Aomori for Dr. Gunji's research, as well as a presentation on her follow-up investigation in Singapore.

This is the latest masterpiece from Yasuka Goto, one of the most talked-about contemporary artists today. It is filled with the passion of the three men who dedicated themselves to their research amidst the turbulent times, and the fervent spirit of Yasuka Goto herself.