Naoya Ohtani, a painter who graduated from the Department of Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts, has been constructing his unique world through a realistic approach. He gives everyday motifs a surreal space, inviting viewers into an alternate realm.

In his works, fleeting motifs like light reflections and liquid flows are meticulously depicted, with no decorations in the background. The motifs floating in this void create an otherworldly space. Viewers must focus on things they usually overlook, prompting a deep re-recognition of their memories of “something seen before.”

The allure of Ohtani’s work lies in its precise realism, tension-filled compositions, and delicate sensitivity that seems to capture even the “air” permeating the space. This sensitivity, hinted at in the exhibition’s title “Something Seen,” connects directly to the viewers’ senses, transforming the visual experience into a physical one.

Through expressions meticulously observed to the finest detail, the deep space and the texture of the motifs, as if breathing on the canvas, stimulate the senses.

Naoya Ohtani’s works transcend realism, capturing a world beyond the ordinary. Please enjoy his exploration of these extraordinary realms.

This exhibition represents a transformation of the act of “seeing” into paintings. I hope we can share what the artist has seen through this exhibition.

Naoya Ohtani