(A selection reviews for"Civil War", Tokyo 1996)

  EVENING YOMIURI SHIMBUN  Date: 24 July 1996  ART  Reinhardt Sobye. New Works of Art
Destiny of Mankind in Detailed Realism
Picture: Serbian Deserter  New works of art have arrived from the Norwegian painter Reinhardt Sobye who made his debut 2 years ago. Sobye is a prolific artist and 40 of his awe-inspiring works produced during the last three years are now on display. With each exhibition, the number of visitors has increased which is an interesting phenomenon.
From the beginning Sobye's art has made a strong impact. Themes such as life and death, old age, sickness, poverty and misery are presented in their stark unadulterated form. His art shocks the viewer when they are confronted with these dark themes. Realistic detail and collages are neither new nor exceptional but Sobye's fastidiously fine-drawn details together with collaged faces and clothes give the pictures a physical rawness. He has dug deep into the mental landscape that is committed to solitude, anxiety, fear and hope. With " Anxiety" and "Hope " , each wrinkle is etched into the old woman's face as if they are deep ravines and at the same time are spores of the imagination leading from the innermost reaches of the human mind.
With modern art history, we have turned our glance away- from realism as early as the turn of this century , but when we encounter the depth and searching as seen through Sobye's eyes, it makes me wonder if we were really oblivious to realism the whole time. I imagine the reason for Sobye painting devastation of the landscape as being a fundamental criticism of civilisation. However, his works are much more than hopeful accusations of socialists. On the contrary, they are filled with premonitions of the tragic end of the world.
He sees many facets of discrimination and false structure that hold up our civilisation. Sobve's eyes penetrate instantly to the rotten core of mankind. In other words, his seething insight has produced revelations about this Age.
Sobve unclothes reality such as war and oppression in all its nakedness; in beautifully com posed space. He beckons the viewer into the vast space through a coloured acrylic plate in front of the picture. This is a fascinating quality of his art.
At 40 years of age, he.is considered late in attaining recognition in his own countryi but stil noone, neither planners or art critics know anything about the man himself. Only the paintings with their solid black frames arrive each year telling us about the Destiny of Mankind.   Until 27. Toho Gallery, Kyobashi 2-5-6. (Kawa).  
SANKEI SHIMBUN  21 July i996. Exhibit Revue
Indictment Against Societv. Unique technique.
Serbian Deserter  Norwegian painter Reinhardt Sobve, born in 1956, is not an international name in the art world. He has previously held an exhibition in London but is virtually unknown outside of his homeland. Art critic Ichiro Hariu received an inquiry from the artist 3 years ago on whether he could hold an exhibition in Japan. Mr. Hariu was greatly impressed and conferred with a gallery owner who was also deeplv fascinated by Sobye's penetrating realism. His first exhibition was thereby realised at the gallery the following year and the current exhibition is the third. Japan imports art works as soon as an artist gains a reputation in USA or Europe so Sobye is a rare exception of this norm. Art Critic and gallery owner Hariu was planning to have Sobye guest at his own atelier but was unable due to a busy schedule. Thev have had to picture for themselves what Sobve looks like from his "Self Portrait as a Jew" as he has not even sent a photograph of himself for the exhibition catalogue.
This is indeed a rarity in today's PR-conscious society.
The first exhibition's theme was "Hell", the second "Requiem" and the current showing is "Civil War". This theme not only depicts the stark reality of the Bosnian conflict, but also the social discrimination caused by increasing economical hardship caused by War or social injustice. Subjects are old people and war deserters. The
"Serbian Deserter has a plate hanging on his chest where it is written, "The loneliest man in the world". Sobve's technique is unique. Painting in gouache, cravon and pastel on paper.
Impressive realism in the drawing of wrinkles and skinflecks on the faces of the old people. Pieces of material are used as a type of collage after which the painting has been covered with plexi-glass. Both sides of the plexi-glass are coloured causing the reflection and refraction of light to give a delicate effect.
The accusation against society virtually floods over the canvas where the artist expresses his grief for the state of human existence today. Paintings of this calibre are indeed a rarity in this day and age.   (Toshio Matsumura).
Toho Gallery, until 27th. Tokiwa Bldg. 2-5-6 Kyobashi, Tokyo 
KOMEI SHIMBUN  Date: 21 July 1996
Exhibition Guide
Reinhardt Sobye "Civil War"  Norwegian painter, Reinhardt Sobye's 3rd exhibition has now opened.
Introduced to Japan 2 years ago with the unique theme of "Hell" which made a profound impact on us with his introspection and expressionistic works that hardly exist anymore in the social trends of today's Japan.
This time he has chosen "Civil War" as the theme, depicting a part of modern day Europe where discord has arisen as a result of nationalism amongst different groups in the same country. In the midst of War, Society has forgotten about human suffering, especially that of the women and the children.
However, Sobye pursues the "human aspect" without relent and his sincere feeling and viewpoint are mirrored in his world.   Exhibition at Toho Gallery until 27th. (Tokiwa Bldg. 2-5-6 Kyobashi, Tokyo).  
AKAHATA  Date: 17 July 1996
Art
Degraded Society Lying Behind Sorrow
Reinhardt Sobye Exhibition Picture: "Serbia Deserter"  This young painter is finding that he is suddeniv drawing a lot of attention in his homeland of Norway. Even though he has never been to Japan, this is his 3rd exhibition here in Tokyo. The works on display are more detailed than previously. The bulk of these are portraits that express the artist's philosophy on innocent humans in tragic. situations of which they have no control. Where he has drawn, close attention has been paid to shadowing on the face creating a fascinating effect combined with the free but well-controlled background, giving an overall strong impact on the viewer. Sobye has used collaged pieces of material for the subject's clothes making a good combination with the gouached or pastelled face. An added technique is the mounting of a clear acrvlic plate over the painting that enhances the feeling of depth and distance.
However, what makes the power of the painter's work so real is the sheer existence of the picture's theme and his interpretation of the same. This exhibition entitled "Civil War" not only focuses on real war from the massacres and burning villages in Bosnia, but on the many kinds of internal struggles of War that are spawned by our society. To be more specific, this means poverty resulting from economic decisions by governments, misuse of power and the ensuing violence, alienation of humans lower down the social ladder such as the sick and the handicapped. The painter's viewpoint on the above as shown in the sorrowful eyes is abundantly clear to us.
"Serbian Deserter" described as "The World's Loneliest Man" shows a wintry forest behind the sad face which seems to have profound depth but at the same time empty, as if only filled with air.
The same transparency is repeated in the farmhouse which is about to be reached by exploding fire. The aesthetic technique used in the painting shows the true dimension and gravity of the exhibition's theme and this has to be a positive development of realism. The painter has depicted an actual scene but at the same time it is so much more than just a realistic picture. It is important for the artist to show his ostentation of Society from whence this grief has arisen.
Sobye has chosen not to express himself in loud blatant terms but quietly and in a thought-provoking manner. This is where the power and strength in his work lies.   (Taiji Yamaguchi)
Toho Gallery until 27th. Tokiwa Bldg. 2-5-6 Kyobashi, Chuoku, Tokyo 
ASAHI SHIMBUN (Evening edition)  Date: 18 July 1996
"Hiroyuki Saito. Posthumous Exhibition"
" Reinhardt Sobye Exhibition"  Works depicting the absurdity of suffering in war.
From the series, "Soldiers in the Shadow of Death" H.Saito
Picture: Serbian Deserter. R. Sobye
Todav in Summer, 51 years after World War 2, we are reminded that War is still not that far away from us bv 2 art exhibitions currently on display which make us conscious of the fact War is part of Human Nature. 1) Hiroyuki Saito's Posthumous Exhibition --- - --------- not translated ------ -  2) Reinhardt Sobye Exhibition.  Reinhardt Sobye. Norwegian painter born in 1956. This is his 3rd exhibition in Japan and is entitled "Civil War". The basic techniques used are gouache and cravon, with some pictures including collaged material and coloured glass laid over the surface. Over 10 pictures are on displav where the themes are mostiv portrait and countrv landscapes. In short, they are incredibly powerful paintings. A feature of this artist's work is the wav he concentrates in fine detail on a particular point in the picture. He is able to express hope or anxiety in an old woman's face by emphasising subtle differentiations of wrinkles around the eyes and lips. The feel of war permeates the portraits and landscapes. Particularlv the eyes haunt the viewer, whether they are looking straight at you or away, or looking inwards to their own souls. The eyes of the "Serbian Deserter" are empty and glazed. We are made aware of the abstract state of the deserter's mind, as if he has seen things he should never have witnessed and in turn, making us aware of his deadly serious situation, without a word having been spoken.
The pictures are not a propaganda campaign of anti-war. They are beyond such self evident slogans but they are a statement of "War is necessary in order to live" as is written in the catalogue. The painting represents, no more and no less, the absurdity of "Civil War". Viewers are reminded that War is never far away or they mav even recognise the nature of War in themselves. Yes, Art still wields so much power even today.  (Editorial Staff, Sanzo Tanaka)