Sample Fine Spirits from Japan @ hpgrp gallery's Party October 18, 2007

Attend our opening party and sample a popular Japanese alcohol for the first time in the U.S.

OPENING PARTY:

Thursday, October 18, 2007, 6pm-8pm
featuring the New York debut of " Sweet Potato Shochu Denen Black,” a Japanese spirit

EXHIBITION DATES: October 18 - 27, 2007

EXHIBITION PLACE:

hpgrp gallery New York
32-36 Little West 12th Street, 2nd Floor
(between Ninth Avenue & Washington Street)
New York, NY 10014
212-727-2491
www.hpgrpgallery.com

Current Show Running through October 13th, 2007:
Ride on All the Rides: The Inspired Abstract Artwork of CJ Collins

GALLERY HOURS:
Tue-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

SUBWAY:
A, C, E, L to 14th Street at 8th Avenue

BUSES:
M14 (9th Avenue at 14th Street)
M20 (8th Avenue Abington Street)
M11 (Bethune/Hudson Street)

MEDIA RELEASE:

hpgrp gallery and Denen Shuzo, the original Shochu company of Satsuma, are pleased to present the first group of illustrators from Satsuma, currently called Kagoshima prefecture, located on the southernmost tip of mainland Japan.

The featured artists are three native Satsuma illustrators working in computer media, fashion and picture books. Their work is inspired by the natural beauty and cultural history of Satsuma.

These three illustrators created the art movement “ Satsumatic.” It is an escape from numbing relationships, polluted air and Big City bustle back to their quiet home of Satsuma. The vivid colors of sun, ocean, clouds and forest as well as the power of the ultimate source of life have great influence on these illustrations. They have brought their art movement to New York City for the first time.

Satoshi Ohtera's theme of “the fusion to plants observed in the garden with a SciFi sense” lightly touches on the symbiosis of nature and technology.

Chinatsu draws on the keynotes of the black of Kagoshima; the red of passion and the feminine; the blue of the sea and the masculine; and white, which connects the world. Chinatsu's motif depicts the “boldness of a woman who finds strength, beauty and an emphasis on tradition while living in the new age of Satsuma culture.”

Shoichiro Takei expresses a story that reaches out to the heart with the topic of love felt from the warmth of Satsuma’s people and natural surroundings in the form of a picture book for children.

Denen Shuzo is presenting the New York debut of these three contemporary artists. Denen Shuzo is a Satsuma company with an over 100 year history of brewing Shochu, a popular distilled spirit lighter than whiskey but stronger than wine and sake.

During the opening reception, two Shochus will be featured; “Sweet Potato Shochu Denen Black” will be served for the first time in New York, as well as “Wheat Shochu Denen Gold” which is loved around the world.

This is the first time Denen Shuzo has shown support of the achievements of art overseas, which is a result of the connection felt with these three illustrators and their shared home of Satsuma. These illustrators are creating the works that have generated this new Satsuma movement.

Satsuma was an important access point for cultural exchange with the world, such as the arrival of Saint Francisco Xavier who introduced Christianity to Japan during the 1600’s. In the last years of Edo, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 progressed rapidly.

Satsuma took in Western culture quickly and a significant political and social change destroyed the former feudal system, making Imperial Japan a great power. This period produced many talented people, such as Satsuma natives Takamori Saigou and Toshimichi Okubo, who helped implement Japanese modernization. The character of Saigo depicted in the movie “The Last Samurai” was based on one of these icons.

Also, Satsuma is surrounded by many islands and an active volcano, Sakurajima. The dark blue seas and rich green nature including the island Yakushima are registered into the World Heritage, akin to a national park. Satsuma’s natural beauty serves as a stage for many movies and animations, such as “Princess Mononoke,” “Umizaru: Limit of Love” and “Yamato.”

Producer: Suguru Maruno, Curator: Keiko Ueno

For more information, please contact Shuhei, director, or Jenn, assistant director at 212.727.2491.

Cost: FREE!

Official Website: http://newyork.going.com/satsuma