Rey Camoy Exhibition

Discover the shadowy world of troubled Japanese Rey Camoy in this retrospective commemorating the 40th Anniversary of his death

Rey Camoy, born in Kanazawa in 1928, is a Yōga Western-style Japanese painter who spent much time abroad, including stints in South America, Spain, and France, before settling in Kobe, where he took his own life in 1985 at the age of 57.

His style is dark and moody, often focusing on subjects who inhabit similarly dark spaces. William Andrews likens his work to that of Francis Bacon in his review of the retrospective of his work on the 30th anniversary of his death.

The Hiroshima Museum which is hosting a 40th anniversary retrospective, says this of the troubled painter:

Camoi spent his life painting his exploration of “what it means to be human.” He defined “realism” for himself as depicting “the unseen”—that is, his own ideals. His works employ a distinctive, subdued color palette to dramatically stage exaggerated motifs rooted in his personal romanticism, which is particularly striking.

Admission
・　General admission 2000 yen
・　High school and university students 1000 yen
・　Elementary and junior high school students 500 yen

Opening Hours
・ 09:00-17:00
・ Open every day throughout the exhibition
・ Final admission 30 minutes before closing

Image: Dice – Rey Camoy (1969)