From the Kita-Kamakura Atelier - A prayer delivered by Kannon painter, Momohana

It's a 10-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station. You'll climb a steep hill, passing residential areas lined with lush greenery. After passing through a narrow path, you'll arrive at a building that feels like a hideaway surrounded by nature. When you open the door marked "kokotama gallery," a cheerful white dog greets you like a gatekeeper.

"I was born and raised in Tokyo, and have been based in Kita-Kamakura since 2015.
The first thing I noticed when I moved to Kita-Kamakura was that the mountains are much closer to my life than I had imagined.

So says Yuka, the owner of kokotama gallery and a Kannon painter based in Kita-Kamakura. Cherry blossoms stand out against a golden background, and beautiful lotus flowers in full bloom. Her works, created in this land beloved by nature, allow us to enjoy the flowers and scenes of each season.

"Rather than artificial nature in the city, there is a satoyama that has been loved by locals since ancient times, and I was moved by the fact that I could feel the changing of the seasons every day through the trees and flowers.
The sky is wide and you can see the moon and stars clearly at night, and the wind from the mountains and the sounds of the birds and insects are very soothing. I think it's the perfect place for a creative environment.
The sea is just a short distance away, and of course there are many historical temples and shrines, making it a fun place.
Above all, the people in the community are so warm and welcoming, and I am always grateful for their help. It really brings home to me the importance of connections between people."

Although she was born and raised in Tokyo, she attended high school in Yokohama, and Kanagawa Prefecture is a place that holds many memories for her as a student. How did the scenery of Yokohama appear to her?

"When I was in high school, I commuted to Motomachi from Tokyo every day.
The slope from the station to the school, which passed through the foreign cemetery, was steep, and I remember being out of breath every day while climbing it.
The area where I spent my student days is home to the foreign cemetery, Western-style buildings in Yamate, and Chinatown, giving the impression of being a stylish, artistic town where you can feel the atmosphere of a foreign country close at hand.
The ships in the harbor, the flower-filled parks, the Red Brick Warehouse, and everywhere else are picturesque. I also love the romantic moon over the sea, the orange-tinged night sky over the harbor, and the slightly bustling neon lights of Minato Mirai.
Recently, the Yokohama Triennale has been a hot topic, and I think that many people are becoming interested in art. When I had a solo exhibition at a gallery in Motomachi, I was left with the strong impression that everyone was enjoying art in a very casual way.

After graduating from high school, he left Japan to attend university in the United States. Living abroad gave him the opportunity to reexamine Japan and his own future, and he spoke of the feelings he developed towards Kannon Bodhisattva.

"Studying abroad in the United States at university allowed me to look at my own country from a different perspective.
When foreigners asked me about Japan, there was a lot I didn't know, so I wanted to learn more about Japan and share it with more people, and so I began to explore this on my own by visiting shrines and temples, learning how to wear kimono, and Japanese painting.
The one that attracted me the most was the Kannon statue.
The fact that Kannon has a similar appearance to humans makes it very familiar to me, and I became even more interested when I learned that there are many different forms of Kannon, as well as other deities such as Tathagata, Myo-o, and Tenbu.
Above all, when I faced the Kannon, I was moved by its profound beauty, its capacity for tolerance, and the many layers of prayer that reside within it that have transcended the ages.
"I was in the midst of job hunting and worried about my future career when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. Prayers from all over the world were sent to Japan, and I was deeply moved by the fact that the hearts of those prayers had nothing to do with country or religion. This strongly influenced my decision to become a painter."

This column is likely the first time many people have heard of the profession of Kannon painter. For me, too, Kannon is an absolute being, and I had never had the opportunity to come into contact with it from an artistic perspective. I felt a little nervous, wondering if I would ever be able to understand it.

Despite my worries, the Kannon Bodhisattva painted on canvases of various sizes, surrounded by gentle colors and beautiful flowers, smiles quietly and enters my heart. I was surprised to see how much variety there is in that single smile. Compassion, beauty, grace, and love. Until now, I had always had an image of Kannon as being rather "still," but the Kannon Bodhisattva painted by her seems to coexist with the seasons and nature, and is "moving" in the colorful scenes.

"I think there are many people who are not interested in Kannon or don't know much about it.
I hope that people will be able to view my works freely and casually, without feeling that they have to be viewed in a certain way just because they are Kannon statues.
At each solo exhibition, I try to convey a message I want to convey at that time through a theme, but I also hope that the artwork will resonate with everyone. I hope that everyone will cherish what they feel, in their own way.

"Please feel free to view it however you like." Just as he said, the work itself tells us, "You can enjoy it however you like."
For example, when you visit a Western art museum, you can enjoy many paintings as art without knowing that they have religious backgrounds. This is also true of Mokutaka's Kannon statues; even those unfamiliar with Buddhism can enjoy them without any reservations, and can appreciate them even more deeply by gaining knowledge.

One piece that symbolizes this friendliness and freedom is "Kokotama," designed with a round and adorable shape.

"Kokotama is written as "jewel of the heart" and pronounced "kokotama".
In Buddhism it is a jewel, in Shinto it is a peach to ward off evil, and in nature it is shaped like a bud or drop of water.
By painting on this plump, warm shape, I hoped to create a piece that people could hold in their hands and enjoy looking at up close.
Kokotama was born with the hope that this piece would be a beautiful jewel that would honestly reflect the heart of the person who holds it in their hands.

Not only are the works on canvas, but also works that are expressed in wooden spheres allow visitors to experience Buddhism, which is deeply rooted in this country, from various perspectives.
The Kannon Bodhisattva that Momiji draws is not just friendly, but also has the compassion and strength that only Kannon Bodhisattva can have. When I asked her about the thoughts that she values when working on her art, she told me about her sincere feelings towards Kannon Bodhisattva.

"I am grateful to be able to work as a Kannon painter.
I think that Kannon is something that is difficult to paint just because you want to. Knowledge is important, but visiting the temple with your own feet, experiencing it, and facing the Kannon will gradually lead you to the next step towards creating your own work.
What is the history of each temple and Kannon statue, what are the feelings of the local people who have cherished it, and what is the area like? I take my time to research, visit the temples, and delve into the things that interest me and that pique my interest. When it comes to Buddhist statues, it's best to see them in person, rather than through photos or videos, and above all, there are many things that become clearer when I learn about the type of temple and area they are in.
If I hit a dead end somewhere in this research, I sometimes think to myself, "Now is not the time to paint this Kannon statue," and give up. Up until now, I have been able to paint many Kannon statues by chance or through strange connections, and I treasure the encounters and connections I have had at each stage, carefully painting each piece that I am able to paint at this time. I think it is special that I have been given the opportunity to paint Kannon, an object of prayer, so I want to continue to do my best as long as I am allowed to do so, with gratitude in my heart for the opportunity to paint every day."

It is precisely because they have valued and nurtured the idea of once-in-a-lifetime encounters that they have been able to undertake a wide range of activities, including collaborative projects with artists and cafes. We asked Mowaka about her outlook for the future.

"As a Kannon painter, I would like to actively contribute to the Kannon statue and temples if there is anything I can do to help.
Last year, I was commissioned by Mii-dera Temple to paint the Gohonzon for the first time.
Until then, I had never painted a work based on a specific Buddhist statue, so it was a difficult challenge, but it was a very valuable experience.
Later, I had the opportunity to paint the principal image of Hasedera Temple in Nara.
If I ever have the opportunity to draw the Gohonzon again, I would definitely like to try it again.
Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, I hope to be able to hold solo exhibitions in places where I have not yet had the chance, and to share my work with the world. I have big dreams."

She concluded by explaining what led her to become a Kannon painter:

"Anyone can pray. And the desire to pray for someone's happiness has not changed from the past to the present. I believe that the Buddhist statues that have been cherished for many years are imbued with the spirit of prayer.
My first step as a Kannon painter was my strong desire to paint artwork that would touch as many people as possible with that prayerful spirit and cherish it and pass it on to the future.

The works of Momiji, who has embarked on her career as a Kannon painter, and the prayers she depicts, touch people's hearts, and those prayers are then passed on to someone else. At a time when prayers are needed all over the world, I too quietly pray that her works will reach as many people as possible around the world.

【profile】

Born in Tokyo.

With parents who were active in the fashion industry, she grew up in a creative environment, and at university she majored in painting at the Faculty of Arts, wanting to be exposed to a variety of sensibilities and broaden her worldview.

He studied at Boston University in his first year and transferred to New York University in his second year.
In 2011, he graduated with honors from New York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

After graduating from university and returning to Japan, he worked as a designer and illustrator, but felt his passion for painting growing stronger, so in 2013 he decided to pursue a career as a painter and held his first solo exhibition.

After leaving Japan and living abroad, he had the opportunity to look at Japan from a different perspective and was once again captivated by Japanese traditions and culture. He was moved by the Kannon statue, which has long been loved and cherished by people, and the spirit of prayer that has been passed down since ancient times, and felt a desire to paint a picture that resonated with those hearts. With his colorful sensibility and expressiveness, he paints Kannon, which represents the spirit of prayer and harmony that goes beyond the concept of Buddhism.

In addition to painting, she is also focusing on creating unique three-dimensional works called kokotama (heart's bead), which she created herself. Kokotama means "a beautiful single bead that honestly reflects the heart," and the pictures are painted on a wooden bead shaped like a jewel.
Each piece is carefully crafted with love and care, with the hope that it will not only be enjoyable to look at, but will also make you want to hold it in your hands and look at it.

Not only does he create art, but he also ventures into collaborative projects with artists and cafes, expanding his worldview into various fields. He is currently based in his own gallery, kokotama gallery, which opened in Kita-Kamakura in 2015.

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