Orecho HONDA

Contemporary Artist

Born in Fukuoka, Japan
Graduated from the Fashion Design course at Musashino Art University's Faculty of Spatial and Display Design in Tokyo.

I create paintings as contemporary art under the overarching theme of "A Reality Shaped by Perspective."

The nucleus of my practice is a unique technique of "painting radiance," achieved by layering transparent pigments over holographic materials. I interpret these materials as a "modern form of gold leaf." Influenced by the sensibility of the Rimpa school artists—who masterfully integrated light into the pictorial plane through gold and silver leaf—I seek to evolve this tradition through contemporary materials and perceptions. My work is an ongoing exploration of mixed media that resonates with the spirit of the Gutai group: "to impart life to the material." The resulting surfaces transform dramatically in response to the viewer’s angle and the play of light.

Historically, Cubism birthed multi-perspective expression to capture an object from multiple angles. While influenced by this lineage, my focus lies in a multi-perspective approach that invites viewers to exercise their own agency in choosing their vantage point. This is rooted in insights gained from the observer effect in quantum mechanics and the Buddhist concept of "kū" (emptiness). Through my paintings, I aim to bring to consciousness the human subconsciousness that seeks to perceive what it desires from its preferred angle. By doing so, I present the possibility that the world can be endlessly recreated, at any time, through the very act of shifting our perspective.

The intentional presence of "empty" spaces in my work expresses the possibilities and fragility inherent in the "unknown"—a state made more prominent by the information age. Simultaneously, these spaces serve as a device that leaves the recognition of "presence" and "absence" to the viewer’s discretion. By introducing a gritty, tactile matiére that stands in stark contrast to the robust texture of the holograms, I intentionally cloak the work in vulnerability, embedding within it the traces of ephemeral weathering and decay.

The motifs of flora and landscapes are all "realities" captured through intuition within the fabric of my daily life. Using these as a departure point, I work within a state of pure concentration, allowing a meticulous composition to coexist with the spontaneous, physical strokes born in the moment of creation. Beneath the motifs that dissolve and reappear in the light lie the memories of my own lived experiences. Ordinary scenes, time, and events can all be draped in a "special glitter" through a single choice of perspective. This is a profound conviction I have cultivated through my own journey in this world.

In our contemporary era, where truth is multilayered and information grows with explosive acceleration, I believe the ability to consciously control how we select and interpret information becomes a vital power for navigating toward a more ideal world. It is my hope that my work will illuminate the viewer’s own inner perspective, serving as a catalyst to transcend one’s personal boundaries and redefine the world anew.