"AMNESIA", Tokyo 1997
REINHARDT SOBYE

Do you have the courage to come face to face with these children and dolls? 03 - 22 March
Toho Garo gallery ( Kyobashi, Tokyo) The Artist and His Works The exhibition consisted of 13 paintings, 10 of which were purchased already during the exhibition's opening day. The Norwegian painter Reinhard Sobye made his debut in Japan 4 years ago. This is his 4th solo exhibition and his works have captured the interest of Japanese collectors. There has always been a thirst for this expression of fine art. People of our times have become mentally twisted through social pressures and have lost direction. Through the portraits of these people, he expresses strong accusations against our modern times.
In this exhibit, he focused on children and dolls wherein reside "angels" who were trodden on and sacrificed for Man's ego and insanity. These are sad, abandoned dolls covered in our Society's blood. However, Sobye does not merely paint a picture of atrocity. One can hear a prayer for salvation behind the tableau. With the prayer echoing in our mind, we cannot help but be moved in some way.
Sobye was born in 1956 in Oslo. He studied psychology at the University, but quit just before the graduate examination and started painting.
It is incredible but it is said that he is totally selftaught in painting. Suggested price of paintings at the gallery : mostly at and above NOK 60.000.- Dead Doll in Belgium" 1996: Crayon, gouache on paper 103.5 x 85.2 cm
"Nocturne" 1996: Crayon, gouache on paper 11 1.5 x 88,5 cm
(Translated from the Japanese art magazine NIKKEI ART June 1997)