Audrey Kawasaki :: Visceral // Chie Yoshii :: Sanctuary

In Audrey Kawasaki’s newest exhibition “Visceral,” the artist delves into the connection between the mind, body, and soul, paying homage to our miraculous inner physiology as a mirror to our emotions and external being. This triadic connection becomes profound with a deeper understanding of our own impermanence, encouraging us to more fully embrace the precious fragility of life and its beauty. The series of paintings, created after the artist’s move to the UK, unveils the intricacy of the human experience through depictions of the feminine form, diaphanously connected to nature.

In Kawasaki’s paintings, mushrooms and insects flourish upon the figures, intertwining with human anatomy in a mesmerizing dance that explores the ephemeral nature of life. Sinuous forms and an earthy palette create an ethereal atmosphere as the female figures shed their skin and transform into something new. There is a rawness and vulnerability in the way they open themselves up, revealing the visceral complexities of the body that are usually kept hidden away. Every organ, every cell, works in harmony to not only keep us alive but to allow a soulful depth of existence. They form an intricate system where each affects the other—mental states impact physical health, bodily experiences influence emotions, and the soul guides a sense of purpose and ultimate transcendence.

In ‘Visceral’ the internal truths of our bodies are not separate from our higher selves—they are the gateway, the tangible bridge, that allows us to see the beauty of the natural world, with profound awareness.

“This body of work has become a deeply personal journey - a raw, vulnerable attempt to find my voice, to shed the layers that no longer serve me, and to uncover the authentic self that lies beneath, even in the face of uncertainty.

Delving into the shadowy recesses of the psyche, “Visceral” unveils the complex tapestry of the human experience through haunting and striking depictions of the feminine form, interwoven with the primal essence of nature with reverence for the inevitable cycle of life.” – Audrey Kawasaki--

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In Chie Yoshi’s inaugural exhibition with KP Projects titled “Sanctuary,” the artist creates a visual refuge dedicated to sheer and unapologetic beauty as a counterpoint to the cynicism, noise, and divisiveness of the contemporary world. Through her paintings, the artist creates a place where the psyche can rest, re-imagine, and restore.

“When I leave reason behind and free-fall into the depth of the psyche, I encounter innate images which become my inspiration. In the same way that the human body carries a long evolutionary history within, the mind also inherits patterns of instinctive behavior. Jung called them archetypes. Freud called them archaic remains. Mythologists call them motifs. Other scholars call them primordial thoughts. I try to capture these ancient yet timely motifs as collective dreams in my paintings. It gives me a sense of selflessness, groundedness and unity to paint our collective psyche that exists beyond time and space.” – Chie Yoshii

Chie’s answer to chaos in the form of refuge and beauty is not passive. The subjects of Yoshi’s paintings explore a profound interplay between femininity, power, and symbolic archetypes of the feminine. Examining themes of vulnerability, strength, and the complex duality that exists within the female experience, the artist creates a visual language that celebrates both the soft and fierce aspects of her heroines, juxtaposing fragility with raw power. There is a gentleness and knowing in her work, as well as a sense that great lengths will be taken to protect and defend this inner sanctuary which holds a sense of natural balance much needed in the world right now.