Materials: Japanese paper, mineral pigments, gold leaf, platinum leaf, pine soot, nikawa (animal glue)
Exhibition location: ESPACIO Nagoya Castle – Guest Elevator Hall (1st Floor)
01 = Garyu no Matsu
02/03 = Miharu
Displayed in the Guest Elevator Hall leading to the guest rooms, this series of works reveals new expressions as light shifts across its surface. Created with layers of gold leaf, mineral pigments, ink, pine soot, and nikawa (animal glue), each work features a subtle relief-like surface. Light cast from above creates delicate shadows across the raised textures and fine cracks, enhancing the impression of the tree's living vitality.
Takehiko Sugawara
Born in Tokyo in 1962, Sugawara developed a highly distinctive style while carrying forward the traditions of Japanese painting. He received numerous awards, including the Grand Prize at the 2nd Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Kei Nihonga Award Exhibition in 2004. Following the success of his solo exhibition in Paris in 2012, he established an international presence. His works are installed in leading hotels and public institutions around the world and have received widespread acclaim in Japan and overseas. Sugawara passed away on July 8, 2025. These works became the final creations of his career.
