VLAB is pleased to present the solo exhibition “Love and nostalgia'' featuring new works by Ai Funaki that have never been shown before in an exhibition. The presentation also marks the artist's first solo exhibition with the gallery in Madrid.

The contemporary artist Ai Funaki was born in Tokyo, Japan where she is currently based. In Ai Funaki's world, black cats often appear in her paintings, peering skeptically from the window sill, laying around the dining tables, stretching within fresh linen, playing in the living room, wandering across rooftops tiptoeing through the city nightscape… their bright yellow eyes always look back, piercing through the night with determination.

In Ai Funaki's world, black cats often appear in her paintings, peering skeptically from the window sill, laying around the dining tables, stretching within fresh linen, playing in the living room, wandering across rooftops tiptoeing through the city nightscape…

“…I draw a world of black cats that reflects my thoughts. Keeping sensibility, the black cat appears everywhere, and is finished with a story”, states the artist.

"I draw a world of black cats that reflects my thoughts. Keeping sensibility, the black cat appears everywhere, and is finished with a story". -Ai Funaki

1. When and how did you start painting?

I have been drawing pictures ever since I could remember. I tried to imitate the pictures from my favorite manga and drew them every day.

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2. How would you describe your artistic style?

I draw pictures with the theme of expressing nostalgia. It is a world that reminds you of the days you spent with your family in your childhood, and gives you a sense of the story. I believe that a monochrome world using white, black, and gray not only evokes nostalgia, but can also express a gentle and peaceful time.

I believe that a monochrome world using white, black, and gray not only evokes nostalgia, but can also express a gentle and peaceful time.

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3. What does the title “love and nostalgia” mean to you?

I expressed the childhood I spent with my family and the loving days I felt at that time. I used black and white and gray in my work to express nostalgia. It depicts a world overflowing with the warmth and kindness that I felt when I was a child. However, the more we know about love, the more painful and sad life becomes. Still, without love, there is nothing to protect. There is nothing sad about having someone important to you. That is life's treasure. It is something that you should always cherish in your heart. I draw pictures every day with this feeling in mind.

I expressed the childhood I spent with my family and the loving days I felt at that time. I used black and white and gray in my work to express nostalgia.

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4. How and why did cats (Joe) become the center of your paintings?

Cats are the closest animals to me. So drawing cats was a very natural thing for me. In the beginning, I was drawing portraits of cats, but over time a story was born from them, and my current style developed. The main character of the story is JOE.

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5. Is there any intentionality in the color palette you choose for these paintings?

My color palette is mostly black and white. These are the colors I need to portray the nostalgia I want to express.  It's not just old, but my color palette has a gentleness, gentleness, and sometimes even melancholy. think of them as one of the color palettes necessary to express one's life.

It's not just old, but my color palette has a gentleness, gentleness, and sometimes even melancholy.