Yasuji Paul Hamanaka
Hidden 809
2009
Fabric, acrylic, mirror on wood panel
10" x 10"
About Yasuji Paul Hamanaka
Paul Hamanaka is a Japanese artist whose work investigates the Asian belief in “kuu”, which he describes in a statement as a shadow self, a nontangible state of being that exists beyond the five senses,” and may be marginally comparable to the Western concept of soul or spirit. Hamanaka is attempting, through New Age sculpture, painting, and installation, to make us aware — or at least recognize the possibility — of this state of existence.
Since the senses and intellect are the only tools we have to goad this concept into reality, these sculptural artworks are highly conceptual and necessarily cerebral — reduced to intellectual symbols that utilize illusion, metaphor and irony. They are emotionally charged but in a cool, quiet and curiously unattached way, as if in a trancelike state or a lucid dream. In fact, they almost seem like a surrealistic parable, message-ridden and purposeful in a moralistic albeit New Age mode of discourse.
Upon arriving at this exhibit, however, now on view at the Freyberger Gallery of PENN State Berks-Lehigh Valley College, one becomes quickly aware that here is an artist with an obvious tilt toward the metaphysical. Visitors are first requested to enter by a side door instead of the main entrance. This door opens into a partitioned and sparsely lit installation of threaded feathers that hangs from the ceiling and seemingly floats in midair like large flakes of snow. The feathers gently sway from the movements of visitors and subdued lighting casts soft shadows on the wall, doubling the effect of multitude and confounding the viewers’ sense of space.