Kara (kærə) Series

Kara, which means empty, was maybe the painter’s darkest collection yet. He... painted the landscapes on a gloomy day in Toronto. The paintings were minimalism at its best. He looses the faces that through years he tried to understand. But more horrifying in Kara he almost looses the city motif itself. The landscape of the city was hardly seen. The busy life that went on in it, the thousands of faces that inhabited it were all missing. This time the city as a whole was fighting for its own existence. The painter seemed so detached, like a mere uninterested observer, and yet the results were frightening. With the grey sky which endlessly stretched above almost swallowing the city landscape, it felt apocalyptic. It left us with a bitter taste. The collection was lost without being exhibited, so the depicted void was for a long time just a mere distant memory.

Texts excerpted from Daisuke Takeya and Contemporary Poetic Sentiment by Fumio Nanjo, former director of Mori Art Museum

Stony Reserve

Stony Reserve

2009, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, Canada Council for the Arts Art Bank Collection, Canada. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The Embassy of Japan in Canada, The Pouch Cove Foundation, SCOPE Miami, Art Chicago, Christopher Cutts Gallery, THE GOOD LANDS (2017 by Victoria Dickenson p.88 ISBN: 978-1-77327-024-1)

Toronto

Toronto

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The Embassy of Japan in Canada, The Pouch Cove Foundation, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Art Chicago 2010

Montreal

Montreal

2008, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The embassy of Japan in Canada, The Pouch Cove Foundation

Ottawa

Ottawa

2008, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, private collection, the United Kingdom. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The embassy of Japan in Canada, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill

Ottawa

Ottawa

2008, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, Canada Council for the Arts Art Bank Collection, Canada. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The embassy of Japan in Canada, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill

Untitled Tokyo

Untitled Tokyo

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: Art Tokyo, Christopher Cutts Gallery

Tokyo

Tokyo

2009, oil on canvas, 213.36 x 182.88 cm, private collection, Germany. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The embassy of Japan in Canada, The Pouch Cove Foundation, Art Tokyo, Roppongi Hills Club

Osaka

Osaka

2009, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Presently at Seoul Auction. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The Embassy of Japan in Canada, Roppongi Hills Club, Seoul Auction

St. John's

St. John's

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery, James Baird Gallery, SCOPE Miami Beach 2010, Art Chicago 2010

Niagra Falls

Niagra Falls

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery

Pouch Cove

Pouch Cove

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, The Embassy of Japan in Canada, The Pouch Cove Foundation,SCOPE Miami 2010, Art Chicago 2010, Christopher Cutts Gallery, James Baird Gallery

Isshiki Beach

Isshiki Beach

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm, collection of the artist, Japan. Provenance: The Japan Foundation, Toronto, Roppongi Hills Club, Gallery Shibunkaku

Untitled Route 13

Untitled Route 13

2018, oil on canvas, 213.36 x 182.88 cm. Provenance: Yamagata Retorokan

Untitled (Jomon Civilization)

Untitled (Jomon Civilization)

2016, oil on canvas, 163 x 130 cm. Provenance: Najomon, Christopher Cutts Gallery

Venice (homage to Yayoi Kusama's 1959 painting No. 2)

Venice (homage to Yayoi Kusama's 1959 painting No. 2)

2010, oil on canvas, 213.36 x 182.88 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery

Yokohama

Yokohama

2009, oil on canvas, 213.36 x 182.88 cm, private collection, the Republic of Korea. Provenance: Art Tokyo, Roppongi Hills Club, Seoul Auction

New York (homage to Vanilla Sky, 2001 directed by Cameron Crowe)

New York (homage to Vanilla Sky, 2001 directed by Cameron Crowe)

2010, oil on canvas, 213.36 x 182.88 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery

Horizonn - Pissing Contest (South China Sea)

Horizonn - Pissing Contest (South China Sea)

2010, oil on canvas, 183 x 183 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery

Kind of Blue (Toronto)

Kind of Blue (Toronto)

2016, oil on canvas, 183 x 183 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery, Art Toronto 2017

Confederation Bridge

Confederation Bridge

2010, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: Art Toronto, Christopher Cutts Gallery

Deer Junction (Homage to Christopher Pratt)

Deer Junction (Homage to Christopher Pratt)

2009, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery, Art Toronto, James Baird Gallery *Missing after being shown at James Baird Gallery in 2011

Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport

2010, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122 cm. Provenance: Art Toronto, Art Tokyo, Ropppongi Hills Club, Christopher Cutts Gallery

Kansai International Airport

Kansai International Airport

2009, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Roppongi Hills Club, Gallery Shibunkaku, Mori Art Center

Untitled night with the moon

Untitled night with the moon

2014, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122 cm.

Ishinomaki Okawa Elementary School

Ishinomaki Okawa Elementary School

2016, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122 cm. Provenance: Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc, Christopher Cutts Gallery

Light from 311 Kesennuma

Light from 311 Kesennuma

2011-2012, mixed media on canvas mounted on wooden board, 91.5 x 122 cm, collection of the artist, Japan. Provenance: Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc, Maruto Saito Chaho Tea Company

Untitled Yamadera Hotel

Untitled Yamadera Hotel

2018, oil on canvas, 96 x 122 cm. Provenance: Yamagata Retrokan

Vancouver

Vancouver

2002, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Provenance: Lost without being shown in 2002

Toronto

Toronto

2002, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Provenance: Lost without being shown in 2002

New York

New York

2002, oil on canvas, 183 x 123 cm. Provenance: Lost without being shown in 2002

Tufts Cove Factory Halifax

Tufts Cove Factory Halifax

2010, oil on canvas, 91.44 x 30.48 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery, Gallery Shibunkaku

The Canadian Parliament Building

The Canadian Parliament Building

2010, oil on canvas, 91.44 x 30.48 cm. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery, Gallery Shibunkaku

Japanese Diet Building

Japanese Diet Building

2010, oil on canvas, 76 x 15 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Showcase/Megumi Ogita Gallery, Shibunkaku Gallery, Christopher Cutts Gallery, 39 ART

Matsushima

Matsushima

2010, oil on canvas, 76 x 15 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Showcase / Megumi Ogita Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Daimonji Morning Light

Untitled Kyoto ~ Daimonji Morning Light

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Zangetuan night

Untitled Kyoto ~ Zangetuan night

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Demachi sunset

Untitled Kyoto ~ Demachi sunset

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, rivate collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Kinkakuji Temple

Untitled Kyoto ~ Kinkakuji Temple

2010,oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Ginkakuji Temple

Untitled Kyoto ~ Ginkakuji Temple

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill

Untitled Kyoto ~ Sanjusangendo sunset

Untitled Kyoto ~ Sanjusangendo sunset

2010, oil on wooden board, 36.5 x 7.5 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Gion night

Untitled Kyoto ~ Gion night

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, private collection, Canada. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill

Kyoto ~ Shimogamo Shrine Sunset

Kyoto ~ Shimogamo Shrine Sunset

2010, oil on wooden board, 36.5 x 7.5 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Kyoto Tower

Untitled Kyoto ~ Kyoto Tower

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill

Untitled Kyoto ~ Collector's Residence

Untitled Kyoto ~ Collector's Residence

2010, oil on wooden board, 70 x 11 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery

Untitled Kyoto ~ Kyoto gosho

Untitled Kyoto ~ Kyoto gosho

2010, oil on canvas, 76 x 15 cm. Provenance: Shibukaku Gallery, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill

Study for a Thousand Prayers

Study for a Thousand Prayers

2010, oil on canvas, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibunkaku Gallery

Godly Mountains, Fire Walk With Me (work in progress)

Godly Mountains, Fire Walk With Me (work in progress)

2010, oil on traditional Japanese panel, collection of the artist, Canada. Provenance: Shibunkaku Gallery

Nabowa's River

Nabowa's River

2010, oil on wooden board, 103 x 73 cm, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Shibunkaku Gallery

Untitled Pouch Cove

Untitled Pouch Cove

2008, oil on canvas, private collection, Japan. Provenance: The Pouch Cove Foundation

Untitled Pouch Cove 2

Untitled Pouch Cove 2

2008, oil on canvas, private collection, Japan. Provenance: The Pouch Cove Foundation

Venice

Venice

2009, digital lithograph, edition of 20. Provenance: Roppongi Hills Club, Art Tokyo, BAG ART (Art Metropole, Up Art Contemporary Art Fair)

Pink (Statue of Liberty)

Pink (Statue of Liberty)

2010, collaboration painting with the audience at the opening reception. Oil on canvas. Provenance: Christopher Cutts Gallery.

Untitled Tokyo Skytree

Untitled Tokyo Skytree

2018, oil on canvas, private collection, Japan. Provenance: Nihonbashi Institute of Contemporary Art (NICA)

2016 -2017, installation view, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Canada

2016 -2017, installation view, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Canada

2008, installation view, the Japan Foundation, Toronto, Canada