On February 4th, Roq La Rue gallery in Seattle will open its exhibition entitled "Burnout Network: Japanese Kustom Kulture Art." It'll feature the work of six Japanese artists who dig American lowbrow and pop surrealism. I like the names of the artists: Makoto, Mr. G, Rockin' Jellybean, Sugisack, Widerange, and Grimb.
A small group of Japanese artists took note of this subculture and were instantly entranced. Rather than viewing it as a passing fad, these artists immersed themselves in the "Hot Rod" lifestyle – customizing cars, learning to pinstripe, traveling to car shows, and creating street art using the subculture's outlaw symbolism such as skulls, cars, monsters, and tattoo images. A thriving subculture now exists in Japan devoted to the scene,?which has?incorporated elements of Japanese pop culture, while remaining loyal to the American hot rod tradition.
This show features the work of several of these Japanese artists, and ranges from Rockin' Jellybean's exquisitely rendered rock vixens, to Sugisack's photo realistic paintings of street rods, to Mr. G's meticulous pin striping, to Makoto's exceptional blend of traditional Japanese iconography with old school Americana. This show is curated by Nash Yoshii of "Burnout" magazine and Detroit Junk in Tokyo.
