Maho Murakami: My Language of Flowers

Taylor-Jensen Fine Arts is pleased to present the artistry of Palmerston North resident Maho Murakami. ‘My Language of Flowers,’ opening Tuesday 21st August, features bright, colourful canvases produced using waterproof inks and paint. The artist works in a very contemporary style drawing on the techniques of traditional Japanese brushwork while creating unique, innovative 21st - century artwork. ‘My Language of Flowers’ is truly a harbinger of spring, bringing into the gallery the shapes and colours of newly emerging flowers. Flowers have been used as a medium of communication to express feelings of love, sympathy, admiration and friendship. A floral bouquet is frequently presented to honour our successful athletes, competition winners and graduates. A bridal bouquet is generally fresh cut flowers; a boutonniere for the groomsmen. In Victorian times flowers were recognised as a symbol to express one’s feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. In the Pacific a flower worn behind a women’s ear communicates her marital status or availability. Ms Murakami has painted a series of works – mostly flowers – which she hopes will bring a positive message to the viewer and good cheer to all through her paintings. ‘My Language of Flowers’ runs through 4th September.

Maho’s artist statement provides insight into her artistic approach: “When I look at flowers I am always fascinated by their beauty, and stimulated to paint. I don’t just grab a brush and start to paint, but first decide on the composition for the theme and then figure out how I should use my brush to capture the form of the petals and flower parts. When I start to paint if I can get a nice form with simple brush strokes and a beautiful blur of colour, then I am happy to continue with the work. Obviously those first marks on canvas are quite important to me. I always try to minimize the brush strokes I use to create my art which I am told reflects a Japanese style that has been practised for centuries.”

Maho Murakami was born in Japan in 1958; she studied Fine Art and Illustration at the Parsons School of Design in New York from 1984 through 1997. Maho taught art at the Masa Mode Academy of Art in Osaka, Japan from 1999-2008, during which she exhibited in 18 group shows with faculty and students. Ms Murakami has also worked as a freelance illustrator and artist whose work has been used in magazines, posters, pamphlets and in advertisement for major department stores throughout Japan. She is married to an administrator at the International Pacific College, Palmerston North.

Maho is represented in New Zealand by Taylor-Jensen Fine Arts; this is her first solo exhibition at the gallery.