Everyday, a solo and debut exhibition of the Osaka-based artist Keita Shirayama, showcases paintings of imaginary scenes based on the artist’s childhood memories in a nature-rich environment. Shirayama’s works are built upon his deeply rooted memories and experience growing up in Asago city, where it is surrounded by high mountains with significant seasonal nature sceneries. It was a great part of Shirayama’s early life experiencing the constant renewal of seasons and its permanent cycle in his hometown. These aspects deeply affect his artistic perspective and approach to art. The scenes captured in his paintings are created in his mind with his memories, often with an abundance of natural elements and ambiguous depictions of subjects. A body of paintings reflect the theme of the perpetual cycle of life and death through capturing the fleeting nature of existence. The artist realized the beauty of impermanence in life through living in a city with ephemeral beauties nature offers. Although the soft pink of cherry blossoms fades away quickly once spring ends, the abundance of summer flowers, vivid redness of autumn leaves, pure whites of snow will carry on coloring the mountains until the cycle brings the cherry blossoms back. The vibrant colors, evanescent sceneries, seasonal sensation, and personal experiences have ingrained in Shirayama’s mind, which became the foundation of his works.
Painting in oil, Shirayama captures the power and vitality of life with intense strokes and her vibrant, yet delicate colors represent the poignant essence of finite existence and the ceaseless flow of time. Each of his work conveys a certain impression that reminds viewers of the beauty of nature and introduces the intimate scenes and precious memories to the artist. He connects viewers to a world where people, animals, landscapes, and the scenes of intermittently evoke a mysterious sensation of life and death, extending a sense of familiarity associated with memories or dreams.