Hiro ANDO
Being a world-class metropolis, Tokyo is a place of endless happenings, beginnings, and a plentiful history. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder many find inspiration in its content, both present and past, and Hiro Ando is no exception. Depicting the scenery of the city with a traditional nuance, Ando adds the contemporary element into his paintings, drawings, and recently sculptural work, mostly influenced by the Japanese Manga. As one of the founding members of the CrazyNoodles collective studio, Ando and his work represent the light, fun side of the neo-pop culture……..
(Exhibition History after the Biography…)
"Drawing on ideas of collectability and fantasy, Japanese artist Hiro Ando combines tradition with contemporary culture in his sculpture work…. Ando’s editioned sculptures resemble enlarged toy cartoon characters and bear the names SumoCat, Samurai Cat, UrbanCat, and RobotCat. They’re mainly monochrome and glossy, a few are enrobed in rhinestones or hand-painted. Ando’s work is the creative fruit of Japanese mass culture.His cat figures are reminiscent of maneki-neko (literally, “beckoning cat”), ubiquitous Japanese cultural icon symbolizing good luck; maneki-neko figurines can be found in nearly every souvenir store and restaurant in Japan. Ando’s cats also resemble a masculine version of Hello Kitty, another emblematic feline character that originated in Japan. Ando’s work shares the neo-pop spirit of Jeff Koons’s balloon dog figurines and Takashi Murakami’s “otaku” sculptures, though Ando’s sculptures do not convey the overt eroticism and darkness that much of Koons’ and Murakami’s work do. Ando expresses a lighter side of neo-pop, highlighting that contemporary art can be both fun and have wide appeal“
Makiko Whole – Publications Coordinator at The Museum of Modern Art New York , New York
Being a world-class metropolis, Tokyo is a place of endless happenings, beginnings, and a plentiful history. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder many find inspiration in its content, both present and past, and Hiro Ando is no exception. Depicting the scenery of the city with a traditional nuance, Ando adds the contemporary element into his paintings, drawings, and recently sculptural work, mostly influenced by the Japanese Manga. As one of the founding members of the CrazyNoodles collective studio, Ando and his work represent the light, fun side of the neo-pop culture.
Merging Traditional With Contemporary
Acquiring his degree from the University of Art, Hiro Ando began his prolific career in 1995 in Tokyo, depicting its nighttime urban landscape. With a lot of inspiration, the streets proved to be an endless source of material for his narratives which often included the red fish in addition to the urban background. The act of the red fish in his paintings greatly reminds of the ancient Japanese watercolor paintings, thus making his work permeated with both a contemporary and traditional feeling. With his artistic beginnings tied to illustration, he would draw several sketches before actually working on the canvas, and his practice has since spread to video material, digital support, and sculpture.
Adding Sculpture to the Fold
Being a multidisciplinary artist, Hiro Ando had added sculpture to his portfolio, creating artwork that furthers his conjunction of old and new. Built upon the traditional maneki-neko, standing for “lucky cat” within the Japanese mass culture, Ando constructs cat-like figures assuming various forms like samurai, sumo, and robot. Their outlook reminds of Japanese modern Manga, a world that influenced the youth of the artist profoundly, instilling Ando’s sculptures with a light, approachable line. Adding to it are the bright, often monochrome colors, and the smooth, shiny materials including resin, porcelain, bronze, and even diamonds, making his works representative of the contemporary neo-pop art.
A Modern Samurai
By adding the element of tradition to the popular Japanese culture, Hiro Ando creates an alluring portfolio that is easily paving its own road within the contemporary art world. Likable and easy on the eye, the cat-like sculptures became his signature mark and are uplifting Ando in the current art scene. Posing a new view on the traditional norms, Ando is a modern samurai of the Japanese art.
Hiro Ando currently lives and works between Tokyo and Shanghai.
Exhibitons List :
2016
KAWAI Show , Gallery 32 , TelAviv , Israel
Permanent Exhibition , Galerie Alain Daudet , Toulouse , France
Crazy noodles gang !!!!! , Opera Gallery Singapore , Singapore
Collective Show, Guerrero Gallery , Miami, USA
Permanent Exhibition, TRIBES gallery, Tel Aviv , Israel
Permanent Presentation , Happy Art Gallery , Cannes , France
Collective Show , LTBart Gallery, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Nippon Neo Pop Show, ZK Gallery , San Francisco, USA
CrazyNoodles Show , Gallerie Ariel Jakob , Paris , France
Colorfull, Guerrero Fine Art , Barcelona, Sitges, Spain
Permanent Exhibition, TRIBES gallery, Tel Aviv , Israel
2015
Collective Show , Opera Gallery Dubai , Dubai , UAE
PandaSan and friends , SIBMAN Gallery , Paris , France
Permanent show , Gallery Bel Air Fine Art , Crans Montana, Switzerland
Icons PartII , Gallery 32 , TelAviv , Israel
Magnificient Contemporary Art , Opera Gallery Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China CrazyNoodles Show, Opera Gallery Singapore , Singapore
Collective Show, LTBart Gallery , Ciudad de Mexico , Mexico.
2014
Collective Show , Opera Gallery Hong Kong ,Hong Kong , China
Pop Sculptures , Opera Gallery Paris, Paris , France.
ColorFull , Galerie Ariel Sibony , Paris, France
Collective Show , Opera Gallery Singapore , Singapore
Permanent Presentation , Happy Art Gallery , Cannes , France
Icons , Gallery 32 , TelAviv , Israel
Collective Show , Galerie Absolute , Saint Paul de Vence , France
This is Tokyo , SIBMAN Gallery , Paris , France
Permanent Exhibition , BelAirFineArt Geneve , Geneve , Switzerland
Opening Show LTBart Gallery, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Permanent Exhibition , Galerie Alain Daudet , Toulouse , France
2013
Permanent Exhibition Sculptures , Galerie SIBMAN , Paris France.Nippon Pop Show , SIBMAN Gallery , Paris , France
Opening Collective Show , Gallery32 , telAviv, Israel.
Mad Show , Maddog Gallery , Ibiza , Spain
Permanent Presentation , Happy Art Gallery , Cannes , France
2012
Pop Art Show , Luca Fine Art , Verbier , Switzerland
Pop Show , Gallery Bel Air Fine Art , Crans Montana, Switzerland.
CrazyNoodles Show , Gallerie Ariel Jakob , Paris , France
Permanent Presentation , Happy Art Gallery , Cannes , France
Permanent Exhibition Sculptures , Galerie Ariel Sibony , Paris France.
AnyWhichWay , Galerie BelAirFineArt , Geneve , Geneve , Switzerland.
2011
Collective Show, Rize Art Gallery, Naarden, The Netherlands
Collective Show , Galerie Alain Daudet, Toulouse , France
CrazyNoodles Show , Galerie Marie Ricco , Calvi , France
Pop Art Show , Galerie des Lices, Saint Tropez , France.
Collective Show , Absolute Gallery, Brugge , Belgium.
Show CrazyNoodles , Sibman Gallery , Paris ,France
ColorFull , Galerie Ariel Sibony , Paris France.
ARTAMSTERDAM (ARTFAIR),RAI Edition 28 , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
2010
Nippon Neo Pop in Paris, Galerie Jacob Paulett, Paris, France
Manga in Amsterdam, Willem Kerseboom Gallery, Amsterdam , The Netherlands
Nippon Collective Show, Galerie Ariel Jakob, Paris, France
CrazyColors , Opera GALLERY, Paris, France
LILLE ART FAIR (ARTFAIR), Palais des Expositions de Lille, Lille, France
ARTAMSTERDAM (ARTFAIR),RAI Edition 26 , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
2009
Nippon 2009, Galerie Ariel Sibony, Paris, France
From Kyoto to Tokyo, Collective Show, Galerie JacobPaulett, Paris France
The World ... a Cartoon, Willem Kerseboom Gallery, Amsterdam , The Netherlands
Shogun in PokemonLand, Opera GALLERY, Geneva, Switzerland
ARTPARIS (ARTFAIR), GrandPalais, Paris, France
ARTAMSTERDAM (ARTFAIR),RAI Edition 25 , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
SCOPE BASEL(ARTFAIR), KASERN Basel, Basel, Switzerland
SCOPE NEW YORK (ARTFAIR), 355 West 36th Street, New York, USA
SLICK PARIS (ARTFAIR), le 104, Paris, France
2008
NeoPop Made in JAPAN, Galerie Ariel Sibony, Paris, France
Tokyo Express, Opera Gallery, London, UK
Inside Japan, La 5eme Galerie, Paris, France
Wonderland, , Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Opera Gallery, Hong Kong, China
ARTLONDON (ARTFAIR), Royal Hospital, London, UK
"PANDASAN FLOWERPOWER" 50cm, 2015 Stainless Steel Carved Painted & Varnished 19 7/10 × 15 7/10 × 15 7/10 in 50 × 40 × 40 cm Edition of 8
"HELLOPANDASAN" 30cm, 2015 Stainless Steel Polished 11 4/5 × 27 3/5 × 15 7/10 in 30 × 70 × 40 cm Edition of 8
"PANDASAN MONOLOGY" 55cm, 2011 Mix Media Resin and Pigment PolyChrome with protective Cap Plexiglas with LED 21 7/10 in 55 cm Edition of 8
"WARRIORCAT" 80cm, 2011 Stainless Steel Polished 31 1/2 in 80 cm Edition of 8
"HARUKA.T Serie of 4 SCHOOL GIRLS BATTLE ROYALE" 160cm, 2015 Stainless Steel Polished 63 in 160 cm Edition of 8
"NISHIKIGOI" 40cm, 2015 Stainless Stell Polished & Carved , Painted and Varnished 15 7/10 in 40 cm Edition of 8
"SAMURAICAT" 100cm, 2006 Resin FiberGlass Painted & Varnished 39 2/5 in 100 cm Edition of 20
"SAMURAICAT MONOLOGY" 50cm, 2006 Mix Media Resin and Pigment PolyChrome with protective Cap Plexiglas with LED 19 7/10 in 50 cm Edition of 8
"WARRIORCAT" 55cm, 2011 Resin Fiberglass Painted and Varnished 21 7/10 × 29 1/2 × 15 7/10 in 55 × 75 × 40 cm Edition of 26
"BUSHI" 100cm, 2015 Stainless Steel Carved & Polished 39 2/5 in 100 cm Edition of 8
Stef+15~1800x2400 blanc
"BLOODY PANDASAN", 2010 Oil on Canvas 35 2/5 × 24 in 90 × 61 cm
"URBANCAT MONOLOGY Pigment" 25cm, 2008 Resin and Pigments Polychrome on Fiberglass under Plexiglass Cap with LED 9 4/5 × 7 9/10 × 5 9/10 in 25 × 20 × 15 cm Edition of 8
Hiro Ando "SATOMI.N Serie of 4 SCHOOL GIRLS BATTLE ROYALE" 160cm, 2015 Stainless Steel Polished 63 in 160 cm Edition of 8
"LOVE PANDASAN2" , 2010 Oil on Canvas 61 4/5 × 34 3/10 in 157 × 87 cm
