Japanese -born Hiroyasu Tsuri, also known as street artist TWOONE, will exhibit for the first time at MiCK from 9 – 21 October.

TWOONE arrived in Melbourne in early 2000 and instantly became an integral part of the “street art explosion” dominating the cultural landscape of Melbourne at the time. As the fervor mellowed and the street art scene matured, TWOONE emerged as one of Australia’s most promising young artists, transcending the boundaries of the street and establishing himself securely in the world of fine art.

He began exhibiting in numerous group exhibitions throughout Australia and overseas including at Urban Art, Gallery Scene (Tokyo), Wooden Foundation, No Vacancy Gallery (Melbourne), Space Invaders, National Gallery of Australia (Canberra), In The Absence of Man, China Heights Gallery (Sydney), Ritual, Causey Contemporary, (Brooklyn, NYC) & Au Courant, Tim Olsen Gallery (Sydney).

In 2008, TWOONE held his first solo exhibition at Bus Gallery & Global Gallery in Melbourne and Sydney. He followed this with a solo show at No Vacancy Gallery (Melbourne) in 2008. Since then, he has continued to hold regular solo exhibitions including at Gorker Gallery (Melbourne) 2010, No Vacancy ( Melbourne) 2011 and Backwoods Gallery (Melbourne) 2012.

A true masterpiece, be it painting, music or cinema, invites its audience into a hidden universe of symbolism, calling for the exploration of its nuanced subtlety and in return rewarding with insight into the artist’s heart and mind. As individual experience and interpretations add to this universe, the resulting cultural dialogue builds a mythology that deepens and extends its original intent. TWOONE, explores these ideas in his work. TWOONE’s work is informed by the Nietzschean dichotomy and Western psychology synthesized with Zen philosophy and aesthetics.

“Within us all there is a battle,” says TWOONE. “The form of fighting and the ferocity is what defines us.”

Private commissions by TWOONE include May’s Lane Street Art Project, Sydney, 2008, Two Blue Blocks, Melbourne Central Railway Station, July 2009, 99m long mural colab with Scott ‘Bonsai’ Neoh, Grand Lane Project, Perth and Art & About, Sydney 2012.

In 2012, TWOONE was a finalist in the Metro Art Award.