Let It Shine

The other day my younger brother signed up for a gospel concert. I was really surprised because I thought he was the last person who would go to a concert. He has never shown any interest in music. I really wanted to go myself, so I couldn’t resist joining him.

During the concert, a workshop was held where both the singers and the audience sang a song, “This Little Light of Mine.” Katakana pronunciation guides were provided so that all of us could pronounce the English lyrics, and Japanese translations were added so that we could understand the message. Repeatedly singing “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine,” I felt optimistic, uplifted, and encouraged.

The painting below is titled, “Light in the Green”, Oil on canvas, 11”x11”, 2025

Evening Walk

The other day, on the way home, I dropped by a jazz restaurant in Osaka. The live show was a standard jazz vocal performance. It started with “My Funny Valentine”, a sad song, but moved to good love songs such as “Day and Night” and others. The room was buzzing with vibrant energy.

Unlike my neighborhood walk, in the big city, I walk through the underground busy street, almost as if I was following an endless stream of people. But I came across an uplifting moment like a burst of firework that I could never experience in my usual evening walk.

The painting below is titled “Evening Walk”, acrylic on canvas, 36”x47”, 2025, ©Kikuko Sakota Art

Naoshima (2) Monet

I saw works of Monet at Chichu Art Museum in Naoshima. One of the largest works is about 6 meters in width. Surrounded by his works of water lilies, I felt as if I were immersed in the natural environment. His brushstrokes translated not only just what he saw but also he felt and I could see his resolution as an artist to capture and depict the moments of beauty in nature. Passion is what I always seek in his works and whenever I view his works, I always feel uplifted.

Photographing of art work is not allowed in Chichu Art Museum, so I shared one image of Monet’s work from Wikimedia commons.

Naoshima(1)

I visited Naoshima Island during new year holidays. This island has several art museums and works of art are dotted in the natural sites.

The one I saw first when I arrived at the port by ferry was Red Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama. It is about 2 meters in height with bold polka dots irregularly scattered. It looks wild and strong like a pop art. While walking to the museum, I saw another pumpkin, Yellow Pumkin with structured and organic polka dots. It looks quiet and meditative.

I heard that Kusama used to draw pumpkins so often when she was a child. Her pumpkins seem to represent her love for nature and art and match the environment of Naoshima and Seto Inland Sea. Infinity of her polka dots echoes with vastness of the sea and nature.

Something Different(2)

Another attempt was collage.  It took some time to collect materials: photos, flowers to make pressed flowers, plastic tape to transfer photos on it, colored paper, tracing paper, etc.  Also organizing my idea for collage composition was tougher than I thought.  But I tried not to think too hard and made a few works.  Here’s one. I picked a tropical parrot as a main role. 

Untiled, Collage, 24”x29”, 2025, ©Kikuko Sakota Art

Something Different (1)

This summer I tried something different from usual: Oil painting and collage.

I used oil paints for the first time in ten years.  They do not dry quickly like acrylic paints, so I felt impatient.  While struggling, paints became muddy on canvas.  After a few failures, I made several oil paintings.  The below is one of them.  

Untitled, Oil on canvas, 9”x11”, 2025 ©Kikuko Sakota Art

Kikuko Sakota's Summer Symphony

My Solo Show, Kikuko Sakota’s Summer Symphony will be held at Hiromart Gallery Tokyo from June 27 through July 27. Opening Reception will be held from 18:00 through 20:00 on June 27.

Please come join us. You are all welcome!

Gallery hours: 13:00-19:00, Wednesday -Sunday (Monday and Tuesday are closed)

Tears of the Sun

Taking a walk in the sun, as usual, suddenly I remembered my late father. My tears were almost coming down.

I wasn’t sad, but I just remembered him fondly. I felt like the sun and sky were looking at me

The painting below is “Tears of the Sun”, Acrylic on canvas, 21”x26”, 2024, ©Kikuko Sakota Art

Love Song

On the way to the acupuncture clinic, which I’ve been treated for long, I found a voice training school.  I was interested in singing, but it seemed too much for me to take lessons.  But finally last year I decided to take a class and started it this January, because I wanted to do something new.

I cannot sing well but I enjoy it, because my teacher explains deep meanings of lyrics that I’ve never thought about and some of them are well-thought. 

Desperado, which is one of the songs my teacher prepared for me, goes like, ”queen of hearts is always your best bet.”… Nothing is important than love…

The painting below is “Love Song,” Acrylic on canvas, 24”x29”, 2024, ©Kikuko Sakota Art