The spiritual and physical world collide at Japanese artist Miwa Komatsu’s latest exhibition Sense of Sacredness. This exhibition vividly portrays the coexistence of the spiritual and material worlds through a striking collection of paintings. These artworks predominantly feature spiritual entities rendered in a colour palette primarily consisting of white, black, red, and subtle touches of gold. These spiritual beings often engage the viewer with their intense, unflinching gazes. It can also be said that her paintings offer a mesmerising glimpse into the other realm, a dimension typically imperceptible to the human eye.
Komatsu's artistic inspiration draws heavily from her personal visions and encounters with the otherworld. It is worth noting that from a young age, a guardian animal spirit, in the form of a wolf, would guide her safely home.
You will also notice the presence of scattered rock-like objects on the ground. These rocks, known as obsidian, are, in fact, black volcanic stones that symbolise the harmonious coexistence of spirits and humanity because this rock served as the primary material for crafting tools by the earliest residents of the Japanese archipelago.
In addition to the captivating paintings, the exhibition features etching illustrations created by Komatsu during her early days as an artist. Additionally, guests can explore figurines of these spiritual entities crafted from Arita ceramics.
