Teppei Takeda, born in 1978 in Yamagata City, has carved a niche for himself in the contemporary art landscape. The present lot Painting of Painting 026 marks the artist’s international auction debut. His idiosyncratic approach, especially evident in the Painting of Painting series, showcases a keen exploration of the painting process and reflects profound introspection. Graduating from Musashino Art University with a focus on Visual Communication Design, Takeda has developed a distinctive style that pushes the traditional boundaries of portraiture and abstract painting.

 

 

 

 

The Brushstroke Illusionist

 

As one stands before Teppei Takeda's captivating canvases, a mesmerising illusion unfolds. Each bold, gestural brushstroke appears to be the spontaneous product of his creation, a well-blended mixture of colours and textures coalescing into an abstract portrait. Yet, upon closer inspection, a startling revelation takes hold: every stroke, every trace of paint, forms part of a meticulously rendered illusion, showcasing Takeda's virtuosic command of his medium.

 

Takeda's artistic journey has been one of solitude and introspection. For over a decade, he toiled away in the confines of his studio in Yamagata, honing his craft and refining his vision, until he was ready to unveil his creations to the world in 2016. His approach to painting is a deeply philosophical one, rooted in a quest to capture the elusive essence of the creative act itself.

 

Takeda's practice begins with a series of sketches, born from the vast reservoir of references he has absorbed over the years and guided by his desire to explore new artistic horizons. From a collection of 20 to 50 sketches (esquisse), a single image emerges, anointed as the ‘subject’ of his work. It is this subject that Takeda then translates onto canvas, embarking on a laborious process that culminates in a work that transcends the boundaries of representation.

 

 

 

Dissecting the Illusory Portrait

 

In the present lot, a striking portrait with simple yet stark colours of black, white and red commands the viewer's attention. The bold, decisive strokes and vivid hues seem to capture the fleeting moments of the sweeping brush in the creation of this work, yet a closer examination reveals the meticulous nature of Takeda's execution. Viewer’s attentions are instantly captured by the minimalist composition and the intense colours, and mesmerised in the next moment by the absence of a face in this ‘portrait’. All these elements are at the artist’s disposal, conspiring to challenge the perception of senses and making viewers question what they see.

 

 

Collector’s Digest

 

Teppei Takeda (b. 1978, Yamagata, Japan) is a contemporary Japanese artist known for his meticulously rendered illusionistic paintings that challenge the boundaries of representation and abstraction. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree from Musashino Art University in Tokyo (2001), Takeda returned to his hometown of Yamagata, where he spent over a decade refining his artistic practice before unveiling his captivating works to the world in 2016. His most recent exhibition is Recent Works solo exhibition at Maho Kubota Gallery, Tokyo, 2022. Takeda's first monograph, Paintings of Painting, was published in 2019.