Hitomi Endo is a contemporary artist who explores the overlapping of dreams and memories, depicting ethereal landscapes with her own unique intensity. Her works evoke a sense of familiarity, yet at the same time, leave behind an unsettling and mysterious impression. With a masterful approach, Endo captures the in-between spaces of past and present, reality and dream, portraying landscapes woven from vague memories and emotions through her distinctive use of color and light.

In this interview, we explore how Endo’s artistic journey was shaped by her mother’s influence, the significance of the act of "erasure" in her creative process, and her unique expression where dreams and reality intertwine. We also delve into how her work resonates with the exhibition Unthought Known.

Art and Everyday Life: The Creative Roots Nurtured by Her Mother’s Influence

Unthought known: Rebecca Bernau & Hitomi Endo dual exhibition / Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

For Hitomi Endo, who has been surrounded by art from a young age, her mother’s presence is deeply intertwined with the foundation of her creativity. “I grew up watching my mother paint ever since I was born. As I got older, I naturally developed an interest in drawing, and before I knew it, art became an integral part of my life,” she reflects. Her mother, who enjoyed art in daily life and frequently took the family to museums on weekends, made art feel like a natural part of existence rather than something extraordinary. This sense of "enjoying art as part of life" is a key influence in Endo’s creative process, where she often imagines her pieces becoming part of someone’s living space as she paints, stroke by stroke.

Endo’s works are inspired by the landscapes she has seen in her dreams and memories, visualizing the fading emotions and forgotten fragments of memory over time. “The landscapes I’ve seen in dreams, as well as moments spent with my family, have deeply influenced my work.” she reflects. Although her motifs and themes are rooted in deeply personal experiences, these intimate stories transcend time and space,bringing a sense of emotional universality.

Visions of Dreams and Faded Memories

Unthought known: Rebecca Bernau & Hitomi Endo dual exhibition / Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

The themes of "dreams" and "memories" in Hitomi Endo’s works are deeply rooted in powerful experiences from her childhood. She recalls having a recurring dream, which she has seen many times since she was young. "I don’t remember how old I was, but I’ve had the same dream over and over, every time I seem to forget it. In the dream, I’m a father to a family of four, walking through a forest with a beautiful landscape that I’ve never seen before." Endo shares.

"Though the landscape is ordinary, the scene in my dream feels overwhelmingly beautiful, as if I were witnessing a world for the first time. It’s the most comforting dream I’ve ever had, but at the same time, it evokes a sense of ominousness and fear. Each time I have this dream, I wonder—is this place a paradise, or something entirely different?"

What kind of landscape can stir such contrasting emotions of comfort and fear? This recurring dream is central to Endo’s creative process. Through her works, she explores the boundary between dreams and reality, visually reconstructing those ambiguous emotions and memories.

The Act of Erasure: Creative Freedom Born from the Cycle of Affirmation and Negation

Unthought known: Rebecca Bernau & Hitomi Endo dual exhibition / Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

One of the most notable aspects of Hitomi Endo’s creative process is her repeated act of “erasure.” “By layering landscapes that linger on the edges of my memory, I aim to get closer to the scenes I’ve seen.” she explains. By deliberately erasing the landscapes she once painted and accumulating the traces left behind, she brings forth the uncertainty of both memories and landscapes.

For Endo, the act of erasing is not merely an act of removal but a process of visually expressing the ambiguity of emotions and memories as they shift over time. As she explores the flow of emotions that become more pronounced in the moment of erasure, she uncovers hidden meanings beneath the surface. By erasing what she has painted, concealed elements emerge, new layers are created, and a multidimensional depth is added to her work.

The Resonance of Familiarity and Otherness: Landscapes Seen Through Unthought Known

Unthought known: Rebecca Bernau & Hitomi Endo dual exhibition / Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

Hitomi Endo’s works often depict fantastical landscapes, capturing fragments of dreams and memories. The exhibition theme, Unthought Known, resonates deeply with her work, as it reflects a delicate balance between familiarity and otherness. Endo paints landscapes she has seen repeatedly in her dreams—scenes that evoke a sense of nostalgia as though they have been seen before, yet remain surreal and otherworldly.

“My dreams always begin in a world with just me and my family—four of us. In those dreams, I’m playing with my imaginary son while gazing at beautiful landscapes. In the dream, I feel a deep sense of love for my family, but when I wake up, that emotion fades, and over time, I can no longer recall their faces, no matter how deeply I loved them. I continue to paint those landscapes, trying to remember their faces.” Endo reflects, describing the connection between the theme of Unthought Known and her own work.

A Mountain Landscape Reflecting a Father: Painting Layers of Emotion

Hitomi Endo "Love Again", 2024, 91.0 × 72.7 cm, Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

In her main work of the Unthought Known exhibition, titled Love Again, a solitary figure stands amidst a landscape where pink, blue, orange, and yellow lines intersect. This scene deeply reflects a personal experience of Hitomi Endo. “I went hiking on Mount Tsukuba with three friends. While we were taking a break, I saw someone walking ahead who looked just like my father. I did a double-take, thinking it might be him.” she recalls.

Beyond the chance encounter, Endo reflects on how beautiful the scenery was at that moment. Yet, there was a subtle sadness embedded in the beauty of the landscape. “When I saw that person waving to a family walking behind me, I felt a deep sadness. But at the same time, the scenery was so beautiful—it was both melancholic and warm.”

The juxtaposition of beauty and sorrow brought about by this fleeting encounter is delicately expressed in her work. The colorful, soft hues of the landscape stand in contrast to the figure, outlined in vivid yellows and reds, emphasizing the coexistence of opposing emotions Endo experienced.

A Deepening Self-Exploration: Hitomi Endo’s Challenge Through Color and Light

Whitestone Ginza New Gallery × CAFÉ AMADEUS STORY

For Hitomi Endo, this exhibition marks her second showcase at Whitestone Gallery, following her previous group exhibition. “Last year’s works were still tentative as I had just begun exploring this style, and I was still finding my way.” she recalls, reflecting on her creative process at the time.

However, with this year’s works, she expresses newfound confidence: “Since the beginning of this year, my expression has stabilized, and I feel that I’ve been able to present my work in a beautifully cohesive way.” This confidence in her evolving challenge is evident, particularly in her approach to color. “When I work, I experiment with paints as I go. I’m always thinking about how best to express the vibrant colors of the paint, keeping notes and carefully deciding how to use each color.” she explains.

Endo’s latest works demonstrate bold contrasts of color, skillful layering of compositions, and delicate expressions of light that seem to bring the luminosity itself to life. Each piece reflects her ongoing journey of self-exploration and the deepening of her artistic expression.

Unthought known: Rebecca Bernau & Hitomi Endo dual exhibition / Whitestone Ginza New Gallery

The landscapes of dreams and memories that Hitomi Endo paints are a unique blend of ambiguity and clarity, offering viewers a fresh perspective. Her latest works can be experienced through the online exhibition, where you can immerse yourself in the evolving world of her artistry. Take this opportunity to deeply explore the new chapter in her creative journey.

Online Exhibition: Unthought known