This vibrant painting features a striking central figure set against a whimsical, surreal landscape. The use of bold, contrasting colors creates a dynamic composition, with the subject's face and upper body rendered in a warm, earthy palette while the background explodes in shades of blue, green, and yellow. The stylized, almost cartoonish depiction of the figure, with its oversized eyes and exaggerated features, suggests a playful, imaginative approach to the subject matter. The overall style and technique evoke a sense of folk art or outsider art, reflecting the artist's unique and unconventional vision. This work likely explores themes of identity, self-expression, and the relationship between the individual and their broader environment. ...
Makoto Toya’s works often take the form of monumental scrolls, created on traditional Japanese paper once used for sliding partition doors. Over the course of his career, including works in progress, he has produced 61 scrolls, each teeming with an array of figures and motifs: men, women, Buddhist symbols, fantastical creatures, celestial bodies, mountains, vegetation, and other elements drawn from nature. Toya does not begin with a predetermined composition; instead, he allows each image to emerge spontaneously, following the flow of his creative impulse in the moment.
His practice exemplifies a lifelong devotion to the act of drawing, reflecting a remarkable passion sustained for over fifty years. With each scroll, Toya continually explores and expands his artistic vision, finding new joys and discoveries in the process. This exhibition offers viewers a rare opportunity to witness the depth and vitality of an artist wholly absorbed in his craft, whose relentless curiosity and commitment transform each stroke into a testament to the enduring power of creative expression. ...
