The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL presents Borderline, the first solo exhibition in Korea by Japanese artist Kohei Yamada (b. 1997), from February 26 to April 12, 2025. This exhibition showcases 15 abstract oil paintings that explore the tension and connection between urban landscapes and nature, a recurring theme in Yamada’s work.
Yamada’s artistic language is defined by layered color fields and geometric abstraction, creating a visual dialogue between contrasting elements. His use of oil paint builds intricate layers that produce both depth and density, encouraging contemplation of liminal spaces—areas where two opposing worlds intersect. By placing these paintings across both the ground floor and basement of ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL, the exhibition invites viewers to experience the shifting boundaries Yamada seeks to express.
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
At the heart of Borderline lies the idea of "junctions" rather than divisions. Yamada perceives the thin, translucent layers of paint as metaphors for fragile yet significant thresholds, where distinct memories and environments come into contact. In his compositions, color fields interact in multiple ways—some merging seamlessly, others repelling each other, creating dynamic visual tension. However, these interactions are not rigid separations; rather, they act as points of mediation, linking disparate moments and spaces.
A signature element of Yamada’s technique is the use of luminous yellow—a color reminiscent of sunlight—as the foundation for his works. Over this radiant base, he builds structured color fields that reference the modern cityscape. Deep reds and blues dominate his palette, symbolizing the land and sea, two natural forces that continuously shape human environments. The resulting paintings capture the coexistence of organic light and industrial structures, subtly revealing how urban landscapes remain intertwined with nature despite their apparent rigidity.
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
Between the dense core of Tokyo and its surrounding suburbs, Yamada experiences firsthand the fluid boundaries between the artificial and the natural. His works reflect this ambiguous space, embodying both the linear precision of modern architecture and the organic movement of natural elements. His paintings' borderlines serve as metaphors for these in-between spaces—where cityscapes dissolve into natural surroundings and vice versa.
Through Borderline, Yamada invites viewers to contemplate how opposing forces—urbanization and nature, memory and reality—exist not as separations, but as points of convergence. His geometric abstraction does not impose rigid constraints but instead suggests a delicate balance, capturing the paradox of harmony within contrast.
As Yamada’s first solo exhibition in Korea, Borderline offers a compelling entry into his evolving artistic vision, showcasing works that challenge viewers to reconsider the meaning of space, connection, and transition.
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL presents Borderline, the first solo exhibition in Korea by Japanese artist Kohei Yamada (b. 1997), from February 26 to April 12, 2025. This exhibition showcases 15 abstract oil paintings that explore the tension and connection between urban landscapes and nature, a recurring theme in Yamada’s work.
Yamada’s artistic language is defined by layered color fields and geometric abstraction, creating a visual dialogue between contrasting elements. His use of oil paint builds intricate layers that produce both depth and density, encouraging contemplation of liminal spaces—areas where two opposing worlds intersect. By placing these paintings across both the ground floor and basement of ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL, the exhibition invites viewers to experience the shifting boundaries Yamada seeks to express.
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
At the heart of Borderline lies the idea of "junctions" rather than divisions. Yamada perceives the thin, translucent layers of paint as metaphors for fragile yet significant thresholds, where distinct memories and environments come into contact. In his compositions, color fields interact in multiple ways—some merging seamlessly, others repelling each other, creating dynamic visual tension. However, these interactions are not rigid separations; rather, they act as points of mediation, linking disparate moments and spaces.
A signature element of Yamada’s technique is the use of luminous yellow—a color reminiscent of sunlight—as the foundation for his works. Over this radiant base, he builds structured color fields that reference the modern cityscape. Deep reds and blues dominate his palette, symbolizing the land and sea, two natural forces that continuously shape human environments. The resulting paintings capture the coexistence of organic light and industrial structures, subtly revealing how urban landscapes remain intertwined with nature despite their apparent rigidity.
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
Between the dense core of Tokyo and its surrounding suburbs, Yamada experiences firsthand the fluid boundaries between the artificial and the natural. His works reflect this ambiguous space, embodying both the linear precision of modern architecture and the organic movement of natural elements. His paintings' borderlines serve as metaphors for these in-between spaces—where cityscapes dissolve into natural surroundings and vice versa.
Through Borderline, Yamada invites viewers to contemplate how opposing forces—urbanization and nature, memory and reality—exist not as separations, but as points of convergence. His geometric abstraction does not impose rigid constraints but instead suggests a delicate balance, capturing the paradox of harmony within contrast.
As Yamada’s first solo exhibition in Korea, Borderline offers a compelling entry into his evolving artistic vision, showcasing works that challenge viewers to reconsider the meaning of space, connection, and transition.
The installation view of the exhbition, Courtesy of Arario Gallery Seoul
