Press release
The first solo exhibition of New York-based artist Susumu Kamijo at Stems Gallery, Brussels presents “When You Came At The Dawn”: featuring nine large scale drawings.
Each drawing contains a portrait of poodles individual or in couple, all trimmed in german style haircut, standing in front of simple landscapes, horizontal lines recalling open and vast spaces which can be the spot of a romantic rendez-vous.
Susumu Kamijo takes pictures of his friends poodles, collects them from the internet, goes visiting dog shows or searches in dog dedicated magazines for that one image that hits him.
The interest in depicting poodles lies in their body shapes, their masses, given by grooming or customizing. Since this discovery, which he made three years ago, Kamijo has been drawing them using soft & oil pastels releasing pressure sensation brought by working with pastel. Moreover, it gives a texture which is more in line with the poodles.
Susumu received his MFA from the University of Washington in 2002, preceded by a BFA at the University of Oregon. His works have previously been shown at Regina Rex, Place Gallery, Marvin Gardens, and the Third Policeman. He was born in 1975 in Nagano, Japan and currently lives and works in the company of two poodles in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Installation Views
Works
  • Susumu Kamijo MIDSUMMER RUN, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    Susumu Kamijo
    MIDSUMMER RUN, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
  • Susumu Kamijo THE MORNING LIGHT, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper
    Susumu Kamijo
    THE MORNING LIGHT, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper
     
  • Susumu Kamijo EARLY SUMMER, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed) 193 x 130 cm. 76 x 51 in.
    Susumu Kamijo
    EARLY SUMMER, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    193 x 130 cm.
    76 x 51 in.
  • Susumu Kamijo THE VISITOR, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    Susumu Kamijo
    THE VISITOR, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
     
  • Susumu Kamijo THE TWINS, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed) 127 x 96 cm. 50 x 38 in.
    Susumu Kamijo
    THE TWINS, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    127 x 96 cm.
    50 x 38 in.
  • Susumu Kamijo BY THE SEA, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    Susumu Kamijo
    BY THE SEA, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
  • Susumu Kamijo THE GREAT ENCOUNTER, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    Susumu Kamijo
    THE GREAT ENCOUNTER, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
  • Susumu Kamijo THE LUCID SPRING, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    Susumu Kamijo
    THE LUCID SPRING, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
  • Susumu Kamijo THE FRIEND, 2019 Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)
    Susumu Kamijo
    THE FRIEND, 2019
    Pastel, pencil & oil pastel on paper (framed)