A Proposal Paper for the Concept: "Energyism"

Ryohei Yamashita's concept of "Energyism" aims to express a powerful energy that profoundly impacts the viewer through his art. This paper analyzes Energyism within Yamashita's artwork by examining his expressive style and personal experience, and explores its positioning and influence within contemporary art.

Paper Title (Updated: June 30, 2024) Capturing Motion: The Formation and Development of Energyism

Introduction

Background: The art concept "Energyism," proposed by Ryohei Yamashita, emerged as part of the dynamic expression movement in contemporary art. His personal history and experiences serve as the wellspring for injecting energy and dynamism into his works. While influenced by other artists, Yamashita’s unique perspective led him to develop Energyism and propose this new artistic concept.

Research Objective: This paper analyzes how Energyism was formed and how it has developed, tracing its evolution through Ryohei Yamashita's career and artworks.

Body

Chapter 1: Ryohei Yamashita’s Background and Evolution in Art

Creative Roots: His creative roots stem from his university experience in video production and his junior and senior high school background in track and field (short-distance running). Video production during his university years allowed Yamashita to cultivate a rich visual sensibility.

Video production offered him the opportunity to learn visual storytelling techniques and explore elements such as color and composition. This influenced his use of color and form in painting, enriching his visual expression.

Conversely, his track and field experience in middle and high school introduced physicality and dynamic energy to his work. His training and athletic performance helped him reflect physical sensation and the rhythm of movement in his paintings. His works frequently feature dynamic elements that evoke the feeling of bodily movement and power. It is clear that these foundational experiences significantly impacted Ryohei Yamashita’s artistic expression. These creative roots bring a unique visual aesthetic and physicality to his works, making them indispensable elements in his artistic evolution.

Influence on Art: The influence of art on Ryohei Yamashita’s background and artistic evolution is evident through a comparison between his adopted dynamic expressive techniques and existing methods in contemporary art. Examples of dynamic expression techniques in contemporary art include Abstract Expressionism and Fauvism. These movements pursue free expression on the canvas, using color and brushwork to convey emotion and energy. Furthermore, techniques like Action Painting realize dynamic expression by incorporating physical movement and action into painting.

In contrast, Ryohei Yamashita's approach is distinct from these existing methods. He combines the visual sensibility and physical sensation gained from his experience in video production and track and field to pursue his original concept, "Energyism." His works convey the flow and dynamism of energy through color, brushwork, form, and texture, creating a powerful impression on the viewer. Moreover, he explores different energy expressions through the contrast between "Roughness" (So: 素) and "Density" (Mitsu: 密) within his works, providing a visual feast. Thus, Ryohei Yamashita’s approach offers a new perspective distinct from conventional dynamic expression methods. His works introduce new energy into contemporary art and offer the viewer a new artistic experience.

Chapter 2: The Theoretical Framework of Energyism

Definition of the Concept: "Energyism" is a coined art term combining "Energy" and "Artism" that refers to capturing and visualizing energy through artistic works and expression. The concept aims to emphasize the power and dynamic characteristics held by the artwork, intending to give the viewer vitality and emotional impact.

Ryohei Yamashita's works aim to embody the flow and dynamism of energy on the canvas, expressing it in a visual form. He pursues an expression where the energy inherent in the work is directly transmitted to the viewer through the vividness of color, the dynamic motion of the brushstrokes, and changes in form and texture. This concept seeks to profoundly explore the power and expressiveness of energy through art, bringing new sensory experiences to the viewer.

Artistic Techniques: The artistic techniques of Energyism express energy by utilizing color, brushwork, form, and texture. Color is a crucial element for injecting vitality and emotion into the work. Vivid colors express the intensity and vigor of energy, while the combination and variation in color tone emphasize the work’s dynamism. Brushwork is the means to express the movement and flow of energy. Bold strokes and delicate touches grant the work movement and life force. Form expresses the flow of energy through the shape and outline of the subject.

Changes in the work's form allow the viewer to perceive the direction and speed of the energy. Finally, texture conveys energy through the surface quality and materiality of the work. Different textures, such as rough or smooth surfaces, richly express the work's energy. By combining these elements, Ryohei Yamashita pursues Energyism, offering viewers a captivating artistic experience.

Chapter 3: Specific Examples of Energyism in Major Works

Work Analysis: We will deeply analyze specific works, focusing on "Dynamic Forms" and "The Flow of Energy." (In Progress)

• Expression of sword strokes in the work "Samurai 12": The vivid lines are not merely a reproduction of the trajectory but a visualization of the Samurai's inherent energy.

• Expression of temporal passage through deformation of form: The expansion of the legs, disregarding the Samurai's original physique, visualizes energy that transcends time and space.

• The "Roughness and Density" (So and Mitsu) technique: There is a contrast between the rough depiction of the sword strokes and the precise depiction of the Samurai's face and hands.

Vision and Sensation: Energyism works exert diverse physical and sensory effects on the viewer. First, on a visual level, the color, form, brushwork, and texture of the work capture the viewer's eye and attention. Vivid colors and dynamic forms stimulate the viewer's eyes, evoking excitement and vigor. Furthermore, the bold brushwork and delicate touches convey movement and life force radiating from the work. This draws the viewer physically into the work, allowing them to sense the flow of energy.

On a sensory level, Energyism works evoke a profound resonance in the viewer's emotions and sensibilities. The flow and dynamism of energy within the work resonate with the viewer's heart, potentially triggering an emotional response. Moreover, the passion and emotion conveyed by the work resonate with the viewer's inner self, appealing to the depths of their soul. This allows the viewer to explore their own feelings and inner life through dialogue with the work, gaining a rich sensory experience.

The physical and sensory effects that Energyism works have on the viewer bring not only visual appeal but also deep emotional experience and inner insight. This allows the viewer to feel a special connection with the work, enriching their emotions and sensibilities through the power of art.

Chapter 4: The Reception and Impact of Energyism

Critical Response: "Ryohei Yamashita’s work expresses the motion, presence, and dynamism of objects—things that cannot actually be seen—through the matière (texture) of the paint. The technique used to express these could be called ‘Roughness and Density’ (So to Mitsu). I feel that ‘Roughness and Density’ is used as a tool to recognize the invisible energy as ‘some kind of trace.’ This relationship between ‘Roughness and Density’ can be seen throughout his works: a flat background versus a densely painted figure, areas with and without paint matière, and parts drawn with a brush versus those drawn with a palette knife. This combination of ‘Roughness and Density’ makes the viewer realize that the work is an expression of energy captured in a single moment. The high level of his work can also be inferred from how difficult it is to understand how it was painted. There are countless details, such as the sequence in which the paint was applied, parts of the figure being rendered in a negative manner (applying paint to the background side to make the image emerge from the background), and the masterful expression of the figure's three-dimensionality using a single color. Analyzing ‘how was this painted?’ might be one way to enjoy his work. I felt that his works condense an energy that makes you want to see the actual, physical pieces with your own eyes, rather than just viewing them through a web browser or in print." (Quote from SAMENOS review) Author: Satoshi Kenmoku (DADA Inc., SAMENOS Division)Education: BFA in Oil Painting, Tokyo Zokei University; MA in Fine Arts, Tokyo Zokei University Graduate School.

“Ryohei Yamashita has consistently sought to find the pinnacle of beauty in the moment of human ‘movement,’carving out a unique genre as an artist. Every physical motion, such as cutting the wind or making water dance, is fixed onto the canvas with a daring composition and brushwork that utilizes his entire body. Furthermore, by translating the imagination of athletes into landscapes and choosing seasonal sentiments as themes, he continues to evolve, seeking themes in various moments that unfold from the beauty of dynamism.” Author: Koji Yoshida (Gallery Speak For Director)

Impact: In 2020, Yamashita's dynamic athletic works were adopted as a stained-glass art piece for Gaiemmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, demonstrating new possibilities for art in public spaces. Through this achievement, his body of work has gained wide recognition and continues to leave a deep impression on many people.

Conclusion

Contribution and Future of Energyism: Ryohei Yamashita offers a new perspective in contemporary art. His approach to Energyism brings innovation to the method of visualizing abstract energy and dynamism, moving beyond conventional artistic expression. Unlike traditional static paintings or sculptures, Yamashita’s works exude life-filled energy, offering the viewer a dynamic experience. His works express energy through elements such as color, brushwork, form, and texture, stimulating the viewer's imagination and sensibility.

This allows the viewer to gain a new sensory experience through dialogue with the work. Furthermore, Yamashita's Energyism transcends the framework of art, stirring the viewer's heart and evoking deep emotions that shake the soul. His works are not merely objects for appreciation but bring deep resonance to the viewer’s inner self, pioneering new aesthetic values and sensibilities. In this way, Ryohei Yamashita's works surpass the bounds of conventional artistic expression, offering new aesthetic experiences and sensory perspectives that bring a new perspective to contemporary art. Through the power of art, his Energyism enriches people's hearts and expands the possibilities of beauty, contributing to the evolution of contemporary art.

Outlook: Energyism has the potential to bring a modest yet significant influence to the future art scene. Specifically, the following impacts are conceivable:

• Exploration of New Expression: Energyism can open new avenues of expression for artists. They will explore ways to express energy and movement more intuitively, increasing the diversity of artistic works.

• Appeal to Audience Sensibility: Works incorporating Energyism have the power to appeal to the audience's sensibilities and emotions. This is expected to make art appreciation a more accessible and moving experience.

• Influence on the Art Market: As works based on the theme of Energyism attract attention, demand for them may increase. This could lead to the formation of a new trend in the art market.

• Influence on Art Education: The concept of Energyism will play an important role in art education. Students can explore how to express energy and movement, improving their own expressive abilities.

These impacts suggest the potential for Energyism to bring a new perspective to the domain of art and to add new depth to the experience of artists and audiences.