Kayo Yokoyama: My Story
13 June – 26 July 2020
In this exhibition Kayo Yokoyama explores her Japanese cultural heritage, focusing on aspects of Zen philosophy which played a significant part in her upbringing. Initially struggling with her Japanese heritage and strict cultural values Yokoyama moved to the US to embrace contemporary Western society before moving to Australia, where she started to re-connect with her cultural identity and Zen philosophy. Now based in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, her work often results in physical manifestations of her search for a sense of home and belonging across the different countries and cultures she has lived in. Delicately etched trees are a re-occurring motif which hint at the universal comfort of nature even in unfamiliar places. The moon and waterfalls are recent additions to her artistic language representing nature’s beauty and companionship. Yokoyama’s new body of work will explore Japanese aesthetics and echo ideas of Zen philosophy.
Yokoyama graduated from Sydney University (SCA) with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) in 2001 before attaining a Master of Fine Arts in 2011. She has exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions including Blue Mountains Portraits (2018), One Wish, One Thousand Cranes (2015) and Keep Sake (2014) at Blue Mountains City Art Gallery; How Does Your Garden Grow? (2016), Goulburn Regional Gallery; Ereignis (2016) Cessnock Regional Art Gallery; Homeland (2015) Bundaberg Regional Gallery; Shadow Weaver (2014), Western Plains Culture Centre; and Creative Revisions (2014), University of Macquarie Art Gallery, amongst others. Her works are held in public collections at Goulburn Regional Gallery, Bundaberg Regional Gallery and are on permanent display at Blue Mountains City Gallery.
A Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Exposé Program exhibition
Kayo Yokoyama is represented by Lost Bear Gallery
Image: KAYO YOKOYAMA Show me the Way 2019, glass, rosewood, aluminium, 60 x 63 cm. Photo: Neil Stevenson
