Kanako Maeda Art Works

  My creative practice begins with an exploration of the "void" within my heart - a vast, inner space that, while seemingly empty, contains the fundamental elements of existence: light, wind, and water. In moments where my soul feels adrift in the cosmos, isolated and cold, art serves as the essential bridge connecting this celestial void to the physical reality of the Earth. By manifesting shapes and colours within this void, my soul secures a place within the universe, making life on Earth sustainable. This deeply personal necessity lies at the core of my research, where I define art as a "philosophy of the soul" - an endless endeavor to contemplate unanswered questions and realize them through creative practice.

  This restorative power of art has a profound historical precedent. Five hundred years ago in Isenheim, those suffering from skin diseases found healing and solace through the contemplation of Matthias Grünewald’s paintings. As Plato suggested that beauty arises from the imitation of nature's perfect harmony, I view art as an ars - a term that historically encompassed not only fine art but also medicine and scholarship. By integrating thought and action, I believe that "art thinking" can bring harmony to human mental health and well-being, transcending the traditional boundaries between the arts and medicine.

  Moving forward, I aim to synthesize the unique materiality and philosophical nature of Nihonga (Japanese painting) with the clinical insights of art therapy. By merging the subjective experience of the artist with the objective perspectives found in therapeutic contexts, I seek to address the fundamental question: "What makes it possible for art to heal people?". My goal is to integrate my extensive experience into a rigorous research, evolving the act of creation into a positive global force - an ars that contributes to the constructive formation of our world.