Shintaro Ohata. The Place Where It Begins

Shintaro Ohata’s creations step beyond the borders of a two-dimensional canvas. The Hiroshima-born artist became known for his lifelike scenes combining traditional 3D and 2D objects. By placing eloquent sculptures in front of his paintings, the artist draws the viewer into a visual game based on the synthesis of arts.

The exhibition at Erarta Museum showcases 24 works created by Ohata over a decade. Every piece resembling a film still involves meticulous work: for the most part, the sculptures are crafted by hand. The three-dimensional figures give their creator complete artistic freedom: unrestrained by the flat surface of a painting, he can express virtually any idea.

It took the self-taught artist a while to discover his signature technique that would give his pieces a more realistic feel without changing his painting style. ‘And then I got inspired by the painting in the backgrounds of film and theatre,’ explains Ohata. ‘This was when I came up with the idea of making sculptures popping out of paintings.’

The cinematic effect in Shintaro Ohata’s works is largely achieved through lighting. The artist realistically renders every kind of light in our daily lives, from sunset and sunrise to artificial lights in cities. These strong light effects emphasise the drama inherent in the everyday.

Collecting day-to-day trifles – the rain, the whiff of wind, silent contemplation of the candle flame or a moment of farewell – Shintaro Ohata encourages us to pause and listen to their inner voice. The moment pictured by the artist transforms into eternity and may serve as the starting point on a journey towards the source, ‘the place where it begins’ – one’s childhood. It offers the chance of complete immersion in every sensation, be it loneliness, surprise, delight, or bittersweet sadness.