Jason Teraoka is an artist and a 4th generation Japanese-American from Hawaii.
It makes no difference if they're young or old, Teraoka's portraits range from the downright neighborly to imaginative figures who look as if they just jumped out of a movie or comic book. Against plain backgrounds, they exist with expressive faces that show disgust, horror, or cruel cynicism.
Teraoka admits that his works display the influence of Alfred Hitchcock's classic suspense films of the 50s and 60s and his camera style. While Teraoka's works resemble imaginary movie posters or still photographs, the emotional expressions portrayed tear them from the reality of everyday life, and Teraoka sheds new light on our extant subconscious thoughts of fear and anxiety.
This exhibition will feature 22 new paintings and 9 new drawings.
Jason Teraoka was born on the island of Kauai, Hawaii in 1964, and he is currently based in Honolulu.
He started being active during the late 1990s, and he participated in the group exhibition Annual Artists of Hawaii in 1997, 1999, and 2001.
Impressed by the works of Yoshitomo Nara that were exhibited throughout the United States, including The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, as part of “Nothing Ever Happens”, Teraoka's work was included in the “Shaka Nara” a collaboration of six Hawaii-based artists and Yoshitomo Nara in 2005. His unique style was introduced to Japan in 2006 during the “Neighbors” exhibition at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art.
His works are now part of the public collections at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Honolulu Academy of Arts, and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and Arts.
Tomio Koyama Gallery Contact information for press materials：Tomoko Omori tel/813-3642-4090
page top