The source is sensitivity, beneficial to the five senses
Kanagawa Gallery Walk
File.10 Ofuroso
Yamamoto Shino (Galerie Watts)
"Because the water is heated using 100% firewood, it's very soft and gentle on the skin, warming you from the inside out," says Takatsuyu, a public bathhouse that was loved by locals for many years and is located just a two-minute walk from Takatsu Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line. Kawasaki Frontale also supported the bathhouse with their slogan, "Let's join the bathhouse together," but it closed in 2015, much to the regret of many.
The space is now a shared office and gallery for artists, named "Ofuro-so" and making the most of the original building.
I heard a rumor so I'm heading in for a bit! No, I'm on my way.
Oh! The words "Takatsuyu" are still there. Actually, a long time ago, when our house was under construction and we couldn't use the bath, my husband and children came to take care of it. Looking back, I regret not having taken a bath at that time. I thought it would be embarrassing if I bumped into the neighbors. Haha.
The reception desk and black telephone give it a retro feel, but these were commonly used until a few years ago, so even those born in the Heisei era could immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Showa era at Takatsuyu.
Now, if you go through the women's bath, you will find the artists' studios.
Contemporary decorator Kohei Kyomori, artist Yutaokuda, and flower artist Takashi Shirakawa are active in the changing room. In the bathtub space, there are also three creators working on music, dyeing, and other projects.
Kyomori's eye-catching, colorful graphics feature striking Japanese motifs, while also conveying a Western nuance. He says that his two years studying in Italy gave him the opportunity to reflect on his identity as a Japanese person, and at the same time, a major theme in his work was the elimination of ethnic prejudice and discrimination through art.
▲A sense of depth created by partially raised ink
"From the history of cultures developing across borders and influenced by decorative elements, I believe that the emergence of a common sense between ethnic groups can have the power to eliminate barriers," says Kyomori. The work features a skull motif and the unified Japanese symbolism (Aun). Through the universal concepts of life and death, the work poses questions about human equality to the viewer.
On the other hand, yutaokuda is known for his detailed monochrome expressions.
The motifs, drawn with extremely fine lines starting from 0.03 mm, are mostly animals and plants, and exude a certain elegance.
▲The artwork is made with conductive ink and plays music when you touch it, making it a very catchy piece.
"That's probably because I started out in the fashion industry."
Yutaokuda, who said this, worked as a designer for the fashion brand "TAKEO KIKUCHI" before going independent as an artist.
Inspired by the worldview expressed by Alexander McQueen, he decided to pursue a career in fashion, but when he realized that McQueen's true essence was that of an artist, not a fashion designer, he felt a sense of fulfillment in what he was aiming for.
"Art is a self-projection, a way of expressing your true self. Because there's no room for faking, when someone tells me they like my work, it's the same as them praising me for who I am, and that's what motivates me to paint."
By coincidence, Kyomori and I both graduated from Istituto Marangoni, the oldest fashion and design school in Italy. Kyomori attended the Italian school, and Yutaokuda attended the London school, but they met in Japan a few years after graduation, so what a match! Life is interesting!
And it's wonderful to have a relationship where we can aim for high levels and inspire each other.
What I like about Ofuro-so is the presence of flowers. Like art, they are an important element that enriches the soul. Shirakawa-san of (hana-naya), who also handles spatial displays for apparel and other items, has a bright personality that makes you instantly become a fan even if it's just your first time meeting him. According to the two artists, he is like a fun, big brother. In the summer, the three of them will hold an exhibition called "We've Started Ofuro-so."
"Women love flowers to an incredible extent. I wanted to deliver flowers to people who, due to aging or poor health, would like to go out and buy flowers as they normally do but can't, so I left a major florist and started a delivery-style business," says Shirakawa, who operates a mobile sales business in addition to selling flowers from his shop, riding a stylish tricycle around the Nakameguro area.
▲Everyone seems to look forward to the monthly subscription.
"I choose flowers based on my intuition on the day I go to the market. The producers are also working hard and growing flowers with various nuances, so I get excited. Rather than arranging the same flowers, I want to have a flexible sense," says Shirakawa. The bouquets are not designed in a way, but are light and easy to combine, being conscious of dealing with nature.
Now, if you go through the men's bath, you'll find yourself in the salon and gallery space. The Space Invaders machine brings back fond memories.
The bathhouse space, with its tiled floors, faucets, showers, and mirrors all intact, has been turned into an event space. It has become a place for various artists to express themselves, and the fact that it is not a white cube seems to inspire the creative spirit. 
"It would be nice to have a place where people can experience art and creation that is casual, like a public bath that you can just drop in to. With that in mind, we have kept the atmosphere of a public bath intact," says Nakamura Miho of NENGO, who is in charge of planning and producing Ofuro-so.
▲When we visited NENGO, which is also in Takatsu Ward, we were surprised to find that they had a drum instead of a doorbell!
Unfortunately, Ofuro-so will only be available for a limited time until September 2020.
Since we already have artists like Kyomori and Yutaokuda who are highly acclaimed overseas, I hope that this will become like the Tokiwa-so of the manga world. Just imagining the budding artists who will grow up here is exciting.
This is a place associated with the potter Shoji Hamada and the artist Taro Okamoto, and I strongly hope that it will become a sacred place unique to the Oyama Kaido area, where cultural figures came and went.
(Interviewed October 2019)
Gallery Information
Ofuroso
3-8-13 Mizonokuchi, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 213-0001
TEL: 044-829-3324
Opening hours: Check the website
https://www.facebook.com/ofuroso/
"access"
▶︎About a 2-minute walk from Takatsu Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line
《Artist Information》
■Kohei Kyomorihttps ://www.kohei-kyomori.com/
