Unfortunately for those seeking cheap thrills on the sidewalks of San Francisco, it's almost that time of year when girls abandon their summer clothes and retreat back into a more covered-up wardrobe of jeans and long-sleeved shirts. But have no fear; starting August 16th, the chic, barely-clad beauties in emerging artist Yumiko Kayukawa's paintings will be on display in "Japanese Wolf," a new solo exhibition at Shooting Gallery.

A native of Sapporo (yes, like the beer), Kayukawa blends traditional Japanese flower motifs and kanji characters with modern images of fashion-crazy dream girls in her work, creating brightly-colored pieces that are at once playful and strangely erotic. Take "Calm Down"—a painting in which a pretty young Lolita in a denim mini and turquoise leggings tries to comfort a rabid bear with the help of some cute little cubs. It's a marriage of opposites that works like a charm, sucking you in visually.

While equally beautiful, the macabre piece which the exhibition takes it's name from is much darker in tone. A female samurai warrior (dressed in a white tube top and black leather pants, natch) crouches bleeding in the foreground, surrounded by a pack of baying wolves and black, crashing waves. Take it as a visual reminder that while populated by impossibly gorgeous women, Kayukawa's imaginary world has a harsh bite—and is best viewed from the outside.

See "Japanese Wolf" at Shooting Gallery through September 12th; 839 Larkin Street, (415) 931-8035.

- Caroline Stanley

Similar Topics:art, japan, painting, shooting gallery

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