“Okku/Beyond the Light” – An Art Display by Shuto Okayasu
**”Okku / Beyond the Light” – An Artistic Showcase by Shuto Okayasu**
In the ever-evolving realm of modern art, only a handful of artists can seamlessly intertwine narrative, cultural identity, and sensory experience into a cohesive and immersive journey. Shuto Okayasu, an emerging visual artist from Tokyo, accomplishes this in his newest solo exhibition, “Okku / Beyond the Light.” This introspective and thought-provoking display delves into the intersections of light and shadow, tradition and innovation, the seen and the unseen—providing audiences with a deep exploration into the otherworldly.
### About the Creator
Shuto Okayasu, born in 1995 in Tokyo, is celebrated for his multidisciplinary approach that combines photography, installations, and digital art. A graduate of Tama Art University, Okayasu has garnered acclaim for constructing meditative environments that encourage contemplation on themes such as memory, transience, and human perception. A significant portion of his art is inspired by his Japanese roots, integrating spiritual and philosophical concepts drawn from Shintoism and Zen Buddhism.
### Exhibition Concept
The exhibition’s title, “Okku / Beyond the Light,” is derived from the Japanese term “Oku” (奥), which denotes depth or the interior. “Okku” is an abstract term invented by the artist to express an emotional and metaphysical realm that lies beyond the visible. Coupling it with “Beyond the Light,” Okayasu invites viewers to move past the observable world and enter a space designed by shadows, after-images, silences, and ambient sound.
Showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Lightforms in Kyoto, the exhibition presents an array of immersive installations, digital works, and sculptural elements crafted in subdued color tones, reflective materials, and precisely curated lighting scenarios. Okayasu employs darkness as a medium—not simply the absence of light but a material with its own character and temporal qualities.
### Exhibition Highlights
**1. “Afterimage Garden”** – This installation features semi-transparent panels hanging within a softly illuminated chamber, gently backlit to craft evolving silhouettes. Guests are encouraged to softly navigate the space, witnessing how light and shadow interact with their movements. It evokes the ephemeral nature of dreams and the lingering essence of visual impressions left behind closed eyes.
**2. “Monolith of Silence”** – A sleek obsidian structure situated at the heart of a completely dark room emits faint sounds reminiscent of wind, breath, and far-off temple bells. The monolithic form offers no reflections and absorbs ambient light, inviting viewers into a space of quiet contemplation.
**3. “Digital Sutras”** – Merging generative coding with digital ink projections, this piece offers a modern interpretation of the traditional Japanese art of sutra transcription. Characters materialize and dissolve in a continual cycle on sheer digital sheets, emphasizing themes of transience and renewal.
**4. “Light Eidolon”** – Arguably the most technologically advanced work, this holographic display utilizes laser diffraction alongside bespoke AI algorithms to conjure ephemeral human figures that appear momentarily before disintegrating into prismatic ash. These figures murmur phrases sourced from poetic texts discussing the idea of “Oku.”
### Artistic Influences and Cultural Significance
Okayasu acknowledges inspirations from both Western minimalist artists like James Turrell and Japanese luminaries such as Hiroshi Sugimoto. However, his distinct blend manifests in his rendering of ‘ma’ (間)—the Japanese aesthetic principle that pertains to negative space or the interval between objects. By manipulating light and space as sculptural instruments, Okayasu transforms perceptual ‘gaps’ into central points of significance.
In “Okku,” nature is not merely replicated but abstracted. Light flows like water or breath, unfettered by physical limitations and driven by metaphor. Shadows are revered rather than foreboding, reflecting the insights of Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s “In Praise of Shadows,” a pivotal text that Okayasu references as fundamental to the exhibition’s thematic exploration.
### Audience Experience and Interpretation
“Okku / Beyond the Light” challenges passive observation. Its installations invite a more reflective interaction, inducing a deliberate engagement. Visitors frequently express sensations of tranquility, nostalgia, and an amplified awareness of their own sensory capabilities.
Through meticulously arranged environmental components—soft echoes, controlled temperatures, textured audio landscapes—Okayasu transforms the gallery into a haven. The experience elicits a state of “liminality,” leaving attendees suspended between recollection and expectation, identity and anonymity.
### Legacy and Future Potential
As Okayasu continues to gain worldwide acclaim, “Okku / Beyond the Light” emerges as a defining exhibition within his career. It fuses traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary tech, spiritual exploration with modern design. Its triumph resonates beyond critical recognition; it signals a shift towards slower, more mindful art in an age frequently overwhelmed by visual distractions.
Ultimately, “Okku / Beyond the Light” encourages us to reconsider the essence of sight, reminding us that true illumination often transcends the obvious.