Mikio Taka, a Sapporo-based artist with a large following for his unique collage works using varnish and his abstract paintings, is holding his first solo exhibition in eight years at TO OV cafe / gallery. A must-see are his new works, which use 60 shades of acrylic paint to depict the various colors of light and the way light resonates through space with rhythm.

A wall displaying previously unreleased and new works

Sapporo resident Mikio Taka is a painter who has been exhibiting his work both in Japan and internationally since he began creating in the early 2000s, earning high acclaim. This exhibition, titled "Sonata of Light," is his first solo show in Sapporo in eight years and features nine new pieces and one previously unreleased work. In these pieces, he uses 60 colors of acrylic paint like musical notes to express the various colors of light we see in our daily lives.

A "sonata" refers to the structure of an instrumental piece composed of multiple movements. The title "Sonata of Light" is said to embody the intention not just to depict light, but to visualize how light changes over time and resonates through space with a sense of rhythm.

《Sonata of Light #02》

A major appeal of Taka's work is the glossy presence created by the varnish applied to the surface. For his new pieces, he has used a transparent, water-based varnish that brings out the paint colors clearly, rather than his usual oil-based varnish, resulting in a bright and colorful finish. "I enjoy mixing paints on the palette, and painting on the canvas is an extension of that," says Taka.

The feeling that he "had fun combining colors, thinking 'this color looks good too,' and just played around while creating" is conveyed through the paint that retains the shape it had coming out of the tube and the lively marks of the painting knife.

《Sonata of Light #10》

"I've been surrounded by flowers since I was little and I love them, so when I see flowers at a flower shop, I want to use them," says Taka. He sees flowers as another element that evokes the image of light, and this exhibition includes three collage works using photographs of flowers. "I think about how I can best present the flower photos. I create them while considering how to make them into atmospheric paintings, like something you'd see on a movie set," he says.

《Sonata of Light #07》

In 《Sonata of Light #07》, there are unvarnished areas, and the plump texture of the built-up paint is charming, with each shape looking almost like a little monster. Taka mentioned that one piece combined with white received a comment that it "looks like sushi," which made me realize how these charming forms can evoke a wide variety of images in the viewer.

This exhibition is a perfect fit for this time of year when the city of Sapporo is bursting with color. Be sure to visit and enjoy a playful interaction with the art in your own way!