Shota Kotake

06/11/2022

Dublin Canvas lightbox painting "Billy in the Bowl"
Now part of True Crime Tour of Dublin

A tour has been set up exploring some of the most infamous true crime stories of Dublin.

30/06/2022

New poster art commission for Soul Noir:Festival of the Dark Arts 2022

Pen and ink on paper

14/11/2021

Yesterday at Tallaght Library had a brilliant day drawing manga portrait for the local residents as part of Comic Fest which will take place in the librarywhole week next week.

29/10/2021

Sneak peak on this year's Soul Noir:Festival of the Dark Arts . It's gonna be very interesting with all the works and performances.
Get your ticket now to see it live
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/soul-noirfestival-of-the-dark-arts-2021-tickets-191796337007

26/09/2021

'Portrait of Max II' has been selected for the 191st RHA Annual Exhibition and now up in the photography room waiting for your visit at the RHA gallery, Ely Place, Dublin.

The portrait was taken on 22nd October 2020 10:35am when Max was about 7 months old fully grown man. We had a little session underneath the lilac tree in the back of my studio where he always hangs out and this was one of the shots.

I made the frame myself with white pine using Japanese wood charring method called Yakisugi.
Char was manually scraped off by natural rope and polished with fine cloth. No varnish or stain used.

The exhibition opens on tomorrow 27th Sep until 30th October. Admission free as always, no booking needed, just swing by.

13/09/2021

Don't forget to support and share our crowdfunding campaign (link below). Alternative artistic platforms need your support - in return you will receive dazzling awards designed by artist S***a Kotake. Thank you.

https://fundit.ie/project/soul-noirfestival-of-the-dark-arts-2021
(image description: an image link to our Fund it crowdfunding campaign which features a still of our campaign video. The still of this video is of a crystal vintage chandelier with our name across it. Our Fund it is currently at 475 out of a 4500 goal.)

An artist run festival for Gothic / alternative artists / culture from October 31st - November 1st in Dublin Castle. We welcome you to join us in celebrating the glory of Goth

07/07/2021

The 2021 open call is now open dearest!

Applications are now open for Soul Noir:Festival of the Dark Arts 2021. Since 2017, Soul Noir has been a much needed platform for Gothic and underground artists both in Ireland and internationally. We are dedicated to showcasing Gothic works from informed and insightful artists and to educate the public on Gothic culture as a valuable and inspiring vehicle for finding substance in life. It is our mission to be a wailing voice for the Gothic and underground artists of Ireland who's work may have been overlooked by the general arts scene due to it's alternative topics. We hear you. We see you. Soul Noir labours for an Ireland where Gothic artists have an equal part to play in the conversation about meaningful cultures and where all artists are treated equally. This years festival will be held in Dublin Castle.

Our theme for this year is DARK WORLD and is reflective on the pandemic (plague) states of being we find ourselves globally submerged in a symbolic, political and environmental way.

DARK WORLD is an introspective oracle on how we live and survive.

Selected artists will receive a €100 artist fee, no commission on sales, professional documentation, promotion and a professional catalogue encompassing their work and that of all artists in the programme.

To apply please send the following in PDF form only to [email protected] - your name, email, website / social media links, address, title of work, year of production, medium, dimensions, artist statement, link to proposed work or pictures of work, CV and 250 words or less on how your work fits the theme of the festival. If you are submitting a live performance you must also send a link to the work. The deadline for applications is the 30th of July at 5pm. All applicants will receive the outcomes of their application by the 4th of August.

Please note: We are looking for works that have already been produced. If you wish to propose work you are currently making, the artist fee remains the same. Soul Noir is not commissioning new works at this time.

Please note: Soul Noir holds no bias towards race, gender, sexuality, religious belief, educational background, disability or socio - economic background and welcomes all artists from all backgrounds to apply.

(image description: a close up black and white image of a planet. There is red text over the image that reads” Open call, DARK WORLD, Soul Noir 2021”.)

Please find more information at https://soulnoirfestival.com/Open-Call

05/07/2021

I am darkly delighted to present the Soul Noir:Festival of the Dark Arts 2021 poster.
This year they have a theme - "DARK WORLD". "DARK WORLD" is reflective on the pandemic (plague) states of being we find ourselves globally submerged in a symbolic, political and environmental way. DARK WORLD is an introspective oracle on how we live and survive.

⚠️Open call for exhibiting artists coming soon. Watch their space!

(image description: a young woman looks to her right, she is visible from the collarbones to above the top of the head. She has dark hair and ringlets that fall down the side of her face. She holds an orb that unifies the "O" in Soul Noir to her chest as darkness closes in around her.)

01/06/2021

🆕 Poster art commission

Title: I Am What I Am

42cm X 29.7cm

Medium: Pen, ink, watercolor, color makers, Japanese Washi paper, Chiyogami patterned paper on cartridge paper. Three layered

Model: Isadora Duncan

Motif: Wild Atlantica Ocean, four seasons, Egyptian lotus pillars, Hydra, Mayo county color, Ballina Arts Centre architecture, organic shapes, blood color, flower patterns

Commissioned by exhibition curator Sinead Keogh

http://www.ballinaartscentre.com/events/

I Am What I Am is a nuanced celebration of q***r artists who work with gender, sexuality, identity and q***r politics. This adventurous exhibition, presented in partnership with Mayo County Council Arts Service, in Ballina Arts Centre will bring together artists from all backgrounds to unite in a diverse exploration of q***r art in Ireland today.
Opening on 5th June to 31st July

20 limited edition high quality heavy gramme A4 prints will be available for purchase at the Arts Centre during the exhibition. 25 euros each and comes with biodegradable protective sleeve and cardboard back.
Sales will be donated to the local good cause.
Please contact Ballina Arts Centre for availability if interested in purchase.

12/05/2021

Billy in the bowl, a mural I did for Dublin Canvas, located on Church St has now been an official visual reference to Royal Irish Academy's historical archive project on Grangegorman area.

You can check out on https://www.ria.ie/research-projects/grangegorman-histories

Who is Billy Davis?
https://www.dib.ie/biography/billy-bowl-a9222

10/03/2021

A wee interview about tools that I use for this blog collecting thousands of creators interview on their tools. Check it out

Artist, art gallery technician

29/12/2020

🎦Reeling in the Year 2020🎦
Mike ➡️ Max 🐣🐥🐦🕊️
Saw Mike grew and graduate, then seeing Max growing in present continuous. This year ended up hanging out with birds more than human!

🔝Tip of the year
According to a photographer nun I've met on the street at the beginning of this year, it's good to keep any kind of holy image of your choice in your SD card so that the photos would be protected from accidental eject without safe removal from computer and other accidents.
I've been using the image of herself on a broken vase that I picked up and now using it as a lampshade. It's working alright so far✌️