Mario Tauchi Performance Drawing Gallery Yamaki
It was a strange performance by Mario for in front of him were two clowns doing an entirely separate act but afterwards in speaking to him he stated: ‘that it didn’t interfere with the artwork and he rather enjoyed it’ and so did I and by the looks of it so did the rest of the audience.
Mario’s work is about metaphysics and the phenomena of his spirituality and how it manifests itself as an artwork. It’s an open spirituality very unlike much of what is seen in the world today, that tends to construct rights of passage through ceremonies, with some of them producing a fanatical determinism that is either inclusive or totally excludes people and seem to be very little about love.
The intricacies of theology are not usually what concerns the artist. They're concerned with the big, beautiful fundamentals, and there I have never had any problem. In fact, anybody who has a narrow sense of their religion, whether they're Jew or Christian or Muslim or whatever, has only to look long and intelligently at the great work of another tradition and they will see what the religions have in common.
Sister Wendy Beckett Art critic/writer
The artworks on show by Mario are not about control but allow an open ended dialogue with anyone who chooses to engage them visually, one can construct whatever form of spirituality they want from of them. Although the drawings do resonate peace and serenity and they raise questions about what is metaphysical art, for the eastern and western traditions so strong within the societal memory. Mario's drawings are a nice respite from these expectations of metaphysical art for they resonate from his unique remembrances.
So if you want a break from the hustle and bustle of Kobe and you’re in Motomachi, take time out and go sit in Gallery Yamaki and enjoy the peaceful sensations that come from Mario’s drawings.
