Beautiful appearance and quiet strength

Kanagawa Gallery Walk
File.8 special source
Yamamoto Shino (Galerie Watts)

I like the word "atmosphere." When I experience the atmosphere that an object gives off, such as a definite presence in the midst of stillness or an alluring allure, I can't help but sigh and say, "Ah, that's wonderful."
When I'm with a group of people, I admire people who have a beautiful presence but can also disappear without making an impression.

A few years ago, when I first saw Morrison Kobayashi's wood carvings, I felt that same atmosphere.

I was shocked and delighted to find that Morrison's studio was located close to my local home!
There, he runs "special source" with Takazato Chiyo and Nakamura Daisuke, and works as an artist, interior designer and construction contractor.

*From left: Morrison Kobayashi, Nakamura Daisuke, and Takazato Chiyo

Morrison was in charge of store design at the interior design company IDÉE from 1995 to 1999. IDÉE was a pioneering brand that offered not only antiques, but also modern interior design and miscellaneous goods from overseas, and suggestions for living with plants, so I often visited the store on Antique Street in Aoyama from my twenties. This overlapped with the time when Morrison was working there, and it was a treasure trove of inspiration, and I still remember the excitement I felt back then.

"I've always loved the sculptures of Yasutake Funakoshi, but what got me started in wood carving was an exhibition called 'The Fountainhead' by Hideki Maekawa in 2008," says Morrison.
Maekawa is an artist I know well. He weaves words born within himself and expresses mythological stories through sculptures, and his deep, fantastical worldview captivates viewers.

"While my interior design work was getting busier, I actually started to lose my hearing in my 30s, and I worried that I would no longer be able to communicate. When I was deeply moved by Maekawa's sculptures, I thought that if I pursued this path of expression, perhaps the works would speak for me."

Morrison went independent and began working as an artist.
The first piece he carved was a ballerina that Takazato, who was active as an accessory designer, added to the display of a ballet-themed exhibition he held. The ballerina, which he carefully brought out from the back and showed us, had a calm and transparent appearance.

Morrison continued to carve, facing himself intently, including actively participating in wood carving workshops held by his respected artist Maekawa, believing that going through a process would help him see his own individuality.Now that he has begun to hold exhibitions, he asks himself the same question again.

"I love wood carving, but I began to feel a distance from it."
"I want to continue working as an artist and make use of the work I've done up until now."

Coincidentally, he was invited to an exhibition with the theme of "Coexistence with Nature and the Circulation of Materials," and the combination of metal, which he had been working with for a long time in interior design work, and his love of mountain climbing led to the "Botanical Chronicles" he is currently working on.

They look like plants, but what's surprising is that they're all made out of metal. They're cut out of metal plates and colored with mineral pigments and rust, creating a truly delicate piece.
"In the mountains, even delicate plants show their strength and vitality. It's like recording that memory."

Designer, craftsman, and artist. It's easy to see why the balance of these three is what gives shape to Morrison's work and voice.

The space at Special Source, which resembles the attic of a European church, is lined with works by Morrison, Takasato, and Nakamura, all of which resonate with each other in a comfortable way. Takasato is responsible for the permanent spatial composition.
"I connect the works of everyone who has submitted them in my own way and arrange them however I like."
"Yes, yes!" Morrison and Nakamura nodded deeply (laughs), conveying their immense trust in Takasato's sensibilities. Takasato herself worked as an accessory designer alongside creating paintings, but she says she was always searching for the direction she wanted to go in. "While working as both a designer and an artist, I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow I was lying in the world of accessories."

Like Morrison, Takasato was shocked when he encountered Maekawa's sculptures, and came to believe that "there aren't many things that are important." His desire to "live life concentrating on painting one painting" grew stronger, and with the encouragement of Morrison, a classmate from his days at Tama Art University and a great understanding person, he decided to pursue a career as a painter.
Now that she feels that her perspective and the range of angles from which she perceives things have broadened, Takazato smiles quietly and says, "I can see the outer boundaries of art, or rather, I know which direction I should walk in." As someone of the same generation, I found her beautiful presence so enviable that I was envious.
Nakamura-san visited Watts over a decade ago, and he's the person who actually imprinted the name "Morrison Kobayashi" in my memory. When he was a student studying interior design, he went to help Morrison, wanting to work with metal. He resonated with Morrison's way of thinking, and the two have had a long-standing relationship. After working for other companies, he went independent and became a member of Special Source, where he continues to work on store interiors with Morrison while also continuing his creative activities.

Before joining Special Source, Nakamura had been making dolls out of scrap iron, but after participating in Maekawa's woodcarving workshop, he experienced the joy and thrill of carving. He expanded the scope of his creations, treating the knots in the wood as expressions, and now expresses creatures that resemble animals.
"When I'm having fun making it, the end result is great," says Nakamura, and as the night progresses, the children exude a humorous charm that makes you feel as if they'll start chatting away.

I was actually a bit nervous about visiting Special Source, which has a cool interior and presentation.
However, seeing the three of them, who are by no means skillful, but have walked their path honestly while searching for their own path, somehow I felt a sense of comfort and familiarity. Perhaps this is why there is such a dignified yet gentle atmosphere.

Takazato's work in particular stopped me in my tracks for a long time. Flags with mysterious colors reminiscent of the aurora fluttered pleasantly in the wind. The artist apparently gave it a title, but the words that came to mind were, "The future is always blowing with the wind." Life is full of joys and sorrows, big and small, and many goals to achieve. It's neither a strong wind nor a headwind, but a wind that accompanies us at every stage, and it makes me happy to think of it.

I gave this piece to my son, who is now a high school student preparing for entrance exams and tends to be a little sensitive.
And when I'm feeling down, I look at it and get encouragement.

(Interviewed June 2019)

Gallery Information
Special Source

4-11-46 Kuji, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 213-0032
TEL: 044-813-0783
http://specialsource.jp/

Opening days: Permanent exhibition held for a few days each month. Special exhibitions held irregularly. For details, please check the website "next schedule" or "atelier gallery."

"access"
▶︎About a 5-minute walk from Kuji Station on the JR Nambu Line