KINJO
b.1990
“From your own standpoint, relax and re-examine the long-pending
problems.” – KINJO
Japanese artist KINJO was born in Tokyo in 1990. His family origins
in Okinawa. The artist grew up in Tokyo since childhood. As loving
skateboarding, KINJO uses street graffiti elements as basement,
combines abstractionism, impressionism, light and shadow elements to
create different series of works, such as “Eyes Shining in the
Dark”, “Colorful Snake” and “Oatmeal package”. The fuzzy contour and
childlike lines show the artist’s avant-garde creative style.
The artist is good at social observation. He notice that the number
of exposures to corporate advertisements and product visuals flooded
by various media far exceed opportunities to visit art exhibitions
in his daily life. Based on the creation of the “cereal”, a rare
western product in childhood memory, and developing the “cereal
packaging” series. KINJO attempts to re-examine the relationship
between prints, paintings, design and art in modern society.
The Cultural Deconstruction and Symbolic Aesthetics of Emerging Japanese Artist KINJO (Toshiki Kinjo)
KINJO (Toshiki Kinjo), born in Tokyo in 1990, is one of the most prominent emerging Japanese artists today. Inspired from an early age by the rebellious spirit of skateboarding and street art, KINJO integrates this sense of freedom and individual expression into his work. His art reflects not only personal experiences but also the characteristics of a globalized and culturally hybrid era. Particularly, the historical background of Okinawa—KINJO’s ancestral homeland—has been deeply influenced by postwar American culture, which profoundly informs his artistic practice. His works are imbued with reflections and deconstructions of American symbols and cultural influences.
1. The Integration of Skateboarding Culture and Street Art
Skateboarding culture, since the latter half of the 20th century, has become a symbol for younger generations, not just as a sport but as an embodiment of lifestyle and subcultural identity. KINJO, having been immersed in skateboarding culture from a young age, incorporates its free-spirited essence into both his life and artistic expressions, using street art as a means to convey emotions and as an outlet for addressing urban living.
KINJO’s work is often characterized by distinct street symbols and graffiti elements, which serve not only as a visual language but as a portrayal and critique of city life. He emphasizes how, in constrained and oppressive urban spaces, art can be a search for freedom. This aligns with the spirit of skateboarding, which challenges urban norms. In this context, KINJO’s works respond to urban spaces and metaphorically reflect modern urban culture.
2. The Historical Memory of Okinawa and the Influence of American Culture
KINJO’s family has strong ties to Okinawa, an island long influenced by postwar American occupation. The presence of U.S. military bases, the influx of American goods, and cultural infiltration have shaped a unique cultural ecosystem in Okinawa. KINJO’s upbringing was inevitably permeated by these American symbols, which are embedded in his artistic creations.
KINJO transforms corporate logos and packaging from pop art into a creative vocabulary, using a unique poetic approach to excavate and deconstruct the symbolic meanings of American culture, while critically exploring the underlying power structures and truths obscured within these symbols. This semiotic approach allows the viewer to not only recognize familiar visual elements but also prompts reflection on their significance in contemporary society.
3. Reinterpretation of Pop Art
KINJO’s style is closely linked to pop art; however, rather than merely inheriting the symbolic methods of artists like Andy Warhol, he injects deeper social critique and cultural reflection. Through his reconfiguration of American commercial symbols, logos, and product imagery, KINJO explores the commodification of culture and the transformation of individual identity in a globalized world.
His works often feature strong commercial symbolism, which represents not only everyday consumer goods in a capitalist society but also hints at how these symbols permeate daily life through commercial systems, becoming carriers of both personal and collective identity. KINJO navigates between these symbols, utilizing their recognizability while subverting the ideologies they represent. This duality gives his work a striking visual impact, while also embedding it with cultural depth.
4. Poetic and Free-Flowing Creative Style
KINJO’s creations are characterized by a free, almost spontaneous style, often improvisational, born from his keen observations of urban and street life. This spontaneity is not only reflected in his techniques but also deeply embedded in the content and form of his work. KINJO is adept at transforming everyday objects into art, through rearranging and reconstructing familiar items to imbue them with new meanings, thereby revealing cultural and social phenomena that are often overlooked in daily life.
At the same time, his work is infused with a kind of poetic quality. This poetry does not stem from traditional aesthetics but rather emerges from the dialogue and deconstruction between symbols. In the collision of these symbols, KINJO creates layers of subtle emotion, encouraging viewers to reflect on the cultural and societal values hidden behind commercialized symbols.
5. Conclusion
KINJO is an emerging contemporary artist who merges street culture with semiotics. His work is deeply influenced by both Okinawa’s history and American culture, while also incorporating reflections on the commodification of culture and identity formation in a globalized world. Using a distinctive visual language filled with symbolic elements and poetic expressions, KINJO reinterprets the commercial symbols found in pop art, guiding viewers to question the cultural and societal meanings these symbols represent.
With his experimental approach and cultural sensitivity, KINJO has established himself as a significant force in contemporary art. His works not only captivate with their strong visual appeal but also provoke critical thinking about modern society, showcasing the diversity and depth of contemporary Japanese art within a global context.
CV
2023
- PLACE,Tokyo International Gallery,Tokyo,Japan
- INSIDER:PRIVATE WORLD OF COLLECTORS,GIN HUANG Gallery,Taichung,Taiwan
- Teansparent Gardener-KINJO solo exhibition,YIRI ARTS,Taipei,Taiwan
- KINJO solo exhibition,GIN HUANG Gallery,Taichung,Taiwan
2022
- ART TAIPEI,Taipei,Taiwan
- KINJO solo exhibition,Hey River Snake C’mon,PARCEL,Tokyo,Japan
- KINJO solo exhibition,BLIND GAZE,YIRI ARTS,Taipei,Taiwan
- KINJO exhibition,(IT FOLLOWS YOU)EVERYWHERE,imo.book,Tokyo,Japan
- Group exhibition,Crossing Memories-記憶の合流地點,Marco Gallery,Osaka,Japan
- Group exhibition,out of bank,MAT gallery,Tokyo,Japan
- GRAY AREA,Marco gallery,Osaka,Japan
2021
- KINJO Solo Show: OVER THE BRIDGE, GIN HUANG Gallery, Taichung (07. 18
– 08. 28) - PEDDLER, Osaka (07. 01 – 07. 31)
- Border (境界線), Osaka (04. 24 – 04. 30 )
- Art Tainan 2021, GIN HUANG Gallery (03. 11 – 03. 14 )
- Solo Show, GIN HUANG Gallery, Taichung
- YAMBARU ART FESTIVAL (やんばるアートフェスティバル) 2020-2021,
Okinawa (01. 23 – 02. 21)
2020
- ARAKAWA GARDENDER, OIL by 美術手帖, Tokyo (11. 05 – 11. 18)
- UNDER THE BRIDGE, PARCEL, Tokyo (09. 08 – 09.18)
- Useless Knife, Caroline Diner, Tokyo (03. 07 – 03.15)
2008
- Start creating artworks
