Chie Yoshii “Journey”
Exhibition runs: November 4th – December 3rd, 2023
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 4th, 6-9pm
Northport, NY– Haven Gallery is pleased to present “Journey”, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Japan born, now California based artist Chie Yoshii. “Journey” is Yoshii’s first solo show at the gallery and features a collection of eight vibrantly painted, narrative portraits of female sitters inspired by world mythologies and amity amongst the natural world. Each painting in “Journey” provides a glimpse into a moment of contemplation and interconnection. One may find darker counterparts such as demons and wish fulfilling jewels closely beckoning Yoshii’s sitters offering a balanced perspective to their foils of nurturing females caring for young animals and flora. The notion of duality pervades life and Yoshii’s work in both the thematic and technical aspects. A journeyer is faced with both the brightness and shadow. Strong lighting and contrast further enhances this notion, creating dynamic and arresting paintings that beguile the viewer and remind them not of just their own journey, but the journeys taken by many others before and after.
About Chie Yoshii
Chie Yoshii’s oil paintings explore timeless psychological themes with a contrasting mix of techniques and styles.
On the one hand, the brushstrokes and the luminosity of her panels are reminiscent of traditional Flemish paintings, in which the details, the quality of shading, and the softness of each character’s complexion are presented in a masterly manner. On the other hand, the subtle symbolism and compelling presence of the figures bring an unexpected air of accessible modernity.
Much of her work is inspired by the relationship between human psychology and mythical archetypes. The enduring themes are woven into surrealities filled with symbols and visual narratives. The enigmatic images embody contradicting elements such as novelty and nostalgia, innocence and sensuality, and strength and fragility, mirroring the complexity of our psyche.
Chie Yoshii was born in year 1974 in Kochi, Japan. She moved to the US to complete her BFA at Massachusetts College of Art in 2000 and studied with a realist painter Adrian Gottlieb from 2002 to 2008. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide.
