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Y.Z. Kami

Paintings

January 16–February 22, 2014
980 Madison Avenue, New York

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Installation video

Installation view, photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view, photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Installation view Photo by Rob McKeever

Works Exhibited

Y. Z. Kami, Untitled, 2010 Oil on linen, 99 × 57 inches (251.5 × 144.8 cm)

Y. Z. Kami, Untitled, 2010

Oil on linen, 99 × 57 inches (251.5 × 144.8 cm)

Y. Z. Kami, Untitled, 2009–12 Oil on linen, 112 × 75 inches (284.5 × 190.5 cm)

Y. Z. Kami, Untitled, 2009–12

Oil on linen, 112 × 75 inches (284.5 × 190.5 cm)

Y. Z. Kami, Untitled, 2011–12 Oil on linen, 99 × 72 inches (251.5 × 182.9cm)

Y. Z. Kami, Untitled, 2011–12

Oil on linen, 99 × 72 inches (251.5 × 182.9cm)

Y. Z. Kami, White Dome V, 2010–11 Acrylic on linen, 112 × 121 inches (284.5 × 307.3 cm)

Y. Z. Kami, White Dome V, 2010–11

Acrylic on linen, 112 × 121 inches (284.5 × 307.3 cm)

About

When you go through the process of looking at a face and you meditate on it with pigments and brushes in hand, it is like living with the face. In a way, it becomes part of you.
—Y.Z. Kami

Gagosian New York is pleased to present an exhibition of recent paintings by Y.Z. Kami.

Kami’s portraits of introspective subjects, often with eyes closed as though in meditation, project a broad and inviting spiritual presence. With his own photographs of family, friends and strangers as source material, he uses faces as vessels to convey an almost sacred and universal atmosphere of reflection. The matte surfaces of the canvases resemble fresco, while the closely cropped, centered compositions evoke El Fayûm portraits of ancient Egypt. Beginning with a primary paint layer in warm terra cotta, Kami renders these figures in a uniform sfumato that evokes a light tremor, imparting to the paintings a striking effect of movement. This sense of vitality may stem from our own associations with photographed subjects in motion, but it transcends the veracity of photographs. Kami does not aim to create photorealistic portrayals; rather, he seeks to make his subjects uncannily present in spirit.

Paintings depicting hands joined in prayer directly indicate Kami’s concerns, as a common action spanning across faiths. Similarly, a universal sense of spirituality is conveyed by White Dome paintings, characterized by a central white light that pours over countless rows of tiny white rectangles, hand-painted or stamped onto the canvases. New large-scale portraits zoom in on Kami’s chosen faces. A further softening of features is achieved in large areas of nebulous skin textures and hair tones. Each painting possesses a distinct sense of fluidity—between the various faiths and texts that constitute Kami’s philosophical influences; between representation and abstraction; and, most unexpectedly, between painted portrayals and energies present.

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Y.Z. Kami, Night Painting I (for William Blake), 2017–18, oil on linen, 99 × 99 inches (251.5 × 251.5 cm) © Y.Z. Kami. Photo: Rob McKeever

In Conversation
Setsuko and Y.Z. Kami

The artists address their shared ardor for poetry, the surfaces of painting, and nature.

Y.Z. Kami and Steven Henry Madoff sit in front two of the artist's paintings

In Conversation
Y.Z. Kami and Steven Henry Madoff

Y.Z. Kami and curator Steven Henry Madoff sit down in Kami’s studio to discuss the artist’s exhibition at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, Spain. Entitled Y.Z. Kami: De forma silenciosa/In a Silent Way, the survey features portraits; images of buildings, both sacred and ordinary; a sculptural installation of loose bricks inscribed with texts; and recent dreamlike abstractions.

A painting in dark blue and white. The image depicts a group of men in white linen encircling a platform on which a couple of them are standing. The standing figures are cut off from the waist up as the top half of the painting dissolves into solid midnight blue.

Y.Z. Kami: Dematerialized

In celebration of the release of the monograph Y.Z. Kami: Works 1985–2018, and in advance of an exhibition of new works by the artist at Gagosian, Rome, Ziba Ardalan and Elena Geuna sat down to discuss Y.Z. Kami’s work. The conversation was moderated by Gagosian’s Kay Pallister.

Rachel Whiteread, Untitled (Notre-Dame), 2019.

For Notre-Dame

An exhibition at Gagosian, Paris, is raising funds to aid in the reconstruction of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris following the devastating fire of April 2019. Gagosian directors Serena Cattaneo Adorno and Jean-Olivier Després spoke to Jennifer Knox White about the generous response of artists and others, and what the restoration of this iconic structure means across the world.

Y.Z. Kami, Gold Dome, 2017, gold leaf on linen, 63 × 70 inches (160 × 177.8 cm). Mr. and Mrs. David Su Collection.

Y.Z. Kami: Luminosities

Elena Geuna interviews the artist on the subjects of his childhood, his approach to portraiture, and the centrality of light in his practice.

Gagosian Quarterly Summer 2019

Now available
Gagosian Quarterly Summer 2019

The Summer 2019 issue of Gagosian Quarterly is now available, featuring a detail from Afrylic by Ellen Gallagher on its cover.