Exhibition Makoto Ofune

Makoto Ofune begins his process by mounting custom-made Japanese hemp paper onto a wooden frame using naturel glue. He then uses an ancient mehtod of pigment making, in which metal ores and gemstones (including cinnbar, azurite, and malachite) are crushed into richly hued powered pigments called iwa enogu. Ofune uses a mortar and pestle to hand-crush the stones into tiny particles thant enchance the vibrancy of the pigment. These powder pigments are then mixed with a natural animal gelatin glue called nikawa in order to adhere the pigments to the paper. Ofune can only prepare small amounts of this combination at once as it must be applied to the paper before the glue cools and solidifies. When the glue set, it adheres the pigments onto paper, creating a three-dimensional artwork that maintains the texture of Ofune's raw materials. 

This meticulous process of adding layer after layer of pigment to paper is meditative for the artist and imbues his work with a deep sense of spirituality. Ofune believes his process is equally important as the finished work. In fact, Ofune considers the process to have begun long before he ever touches his materials. He is highly aware of the fact that the colors of the minerals he uses began developping in the Earth long before he crushed them into pigments. He views himself as the bridges between nature and art, translating the power and mistery of the natural world onto paper and board. He aims to connect with the infinite through his artworks and encourages vewers to get lost in his dreamlike colorscapes. 

Informations

Old winestore Gallery 
7th October 2023 - 7th January 2024
Everyday 
12pm - 5pm