A most European Japanese in Kyiv

An exhibit of paintings by the famous designer Kenzo Takada who left the podium opened in the Gallery of Modern Art “M17.” In the middle of the 20th century Kenzo radically changed the idea of fashion for Paris trendsetters by firmly fitting his clothes with constructive simplicity, fabrics that evoke nostalgia for flowery meadows, with exquisite thin shirts and, of course, with kimono sleeves in everyday life and holidays of the first ladies of the world. The brand “Kenzo” blows softly the light breath of fine perfume, decorates recognizable accessories, and its owner after 60 has chosen freedom for himself.

“I started feeling that I began losing myself,” he said at the press conference on the opening of the exhibition. “Fully immersed in the work of a designer, I could not afford, like I do now, to discover the simplest things for myself. Now I even started taking flamenco lessons.”

Nowadays, the artist travels a lot, he wants to try working on furniture design, he created a collection of vases, sometimes at leisure he designs clothes, but for the most time he is traveling and painting.

The paintings by Kenzo Takada presented in Kyiv have already been on display in Paris and Moscow, and there is still a plan to take them to Japan. The works have been inspired by masks and costumes from the ancient Japanese Noh theater. They are bright, majestic, and, in my opinion, very European. It seems that if before the artist opened Japan to Europe and America, now he is experiencing an inner aspiration for the reverse action.