MIWA KOMATSU: Sacred Nexus
HK H Queen’s 8/F
2025.03.25 - 04.15
Whitestone Gallery Hong Kong is honored to present Sacred Nexus, a solo exhibition by acclaimed Japanese artist Miwa Komatsu. Until now, Miwa Komatsu has presented works under the theme of “Sense of Sacredness,” aiming to evoke our inner spirituality. Now, as embarking on a new venture, the “Sacred Nexus” exhibition unveils over 20 new works by the artist.
A “Sacred Nexus” is a confluence of sacred resonance — a place or moment where we can have spiritual interaction and dialogue with divine spirits and the natural world. Historical sites of worship, lands imbued with earnest prayers, and nature itself are the inspirations of Komatsu’s practice; she envisions the “invisible energy”, and creates the intersection of the material and immaterial realms. By amplifying the resonance between her works and the viewers, the audience is reminded of the sacredness deep within themselves, prompting their connection to divinity in this new chapter of “Sacred Nexus”.
About the Artist
Miwa Komatsu (b.1984) is known for one of her artistic expressions, live painting, which is not a performance, but a solemn ritual, an awakening to the “Sense of Sacredness”. In 2019, Miwa Komatsu captivated the audience in Cleveland with a live painting performance at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, USA. Continuing her artistic journey, in 2022 and 2023, she showcased her talents with performances at Itsukushima Shrine in Japan and Mont-Saint-Michel City in France, respectively, marking a new chapter in her art career.
Her recent exhibitions showcase a diverse range of themes and venues, including “Prayer for Nature” at Wood One Museum of Art (2020), “Miwa Komatsu: Prayer” at Whitestone Gallery Ginza (2020), “Miwa Komatsu Exhibition” at the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum (2021), “Transparent Chaos: Spirituality and Mandala” at Taro Okamoto Museum of Art (2022), “We Love Korea: Miwa Komatsu” at Whitestone Gallery Seoul (2023), “Miwa Komatsu: Sense of Sacredness” at Whitestone Gallery Singapore (2023), “Opening Up a New World of Art” at Ashikaga Museum of Art (2024), “Miwa Komatsu: Sense of Sacredness” at Whitestone Gallery Taipei (2024), “Miwa Komatsu: Sense of Sacredness” at Whitestone Gallery Beijing (2024) and “Zipangu – Contemporary artists who have run through the Heisei era” at Saga Prefectural Art Museum (2024). A touring exhibition will be held in 2025 at the Sapporo Art Museum and the Hakodate Museum of Art, in Hokkaido, Japan.
The works of Miwa Komatsu are in the collection of prominent museums and institutions such as the World Trade Center, To-ji Temple in Kyoto, Nagano Prefectural Art Museum, Wood One Museum of Art, Izumo Taisha in Shimane, Mont-Saint-Michel City, Hatsukaichi Shi in Japan, the official residence of Consulate-General of Japan in Cleveland (Ohio, USA), and Walt Disney Japan, among others.
HONG KONG / H Queen’s
Tel: +852 2523 8001
Fax: +852 2523 8005
Opening Hours: 11:00 - 19:00
Closed: Sunday, Monday
Opening Reception
*Artist will be present.
ARTIST
Born in Nagano Prefecture, Miwa Komatsu graduated from Joshibi University of Art & Design, where she works as a visiting lecturer. She is also a visiting lecturer at Tokyo University of The Arts.
While studying at Joshibi College of Art and Design, her work entitled The Forty-ninth Day was praised for its moving originality. After creating this piece, Komatsu began to concentrate on her career as a professional painter. Starting from copperplate engraving, she has expanded her realm of creation by incorporating materials such as acrylic paint and even Arita ware in recent years.
Komatsu has been highly receptive to the invisible world from her childhood: her early experience of being immersed in nature, surrounded by animals and rich natural landscapes, developed her distinctive view of life and death that all beings were created equal in soul. With an abundance of expressive power, she has presented her works under the theme of 'Divine Spirits'.
A pair of her Arita ware works of guardian lion dogs, Heaven and Earth Komainu, which had been exhibited as part of London's Chelsea Flower Show, became part of the British Museum's collection, and it has been on permanent display. The works of Miwa Komatsu were in the possession of prominent museums and institutions such as World Trade Center, Nagano Prefectural Art Museum, Woodone Museum of Art, Izumo Grand Shrine (Shimane), The official residence of Consulate-General of Japan in Cleveland (Ohio, USA), Walt Disney Japan, just to name a few.
As a contemporary artist, Komatsu has maintained energetic activities including solo shows and live paintings across a spread of countries with the creational principle "The Great Harmonization".