This is her third Solo show with The Minster Gallery.  This body of work is inspired by Masako’s time near Lake Como in Italy, and is evocative of the changing light and sensuality of the surrounding hills and lakes and long walks exploring the countryside around Varenna and Bellano.

“When I first opened the French windows at my hotel there was the vast presence of the Mountain with the Lake below. Every morning it changed, making me feel that as human beings we are “borrowing” a moment of time in this world, co-existing with nature.”  

In this exhibition, Masako’s use of different methods of layering and the scraping away of paint is a reoccurring theme which reveals a fracture through the foreground facade.  Whether a small fissure or a large opening suggestive of a doorway or a window this allows the viewer to reflect upon their own experiences with nature and the play of light.  As a result, the viewer is drawn into these paintings and encouraged to reflect upon what is seen through these doorways which lead to deeper thoughts. 

 “I was born and raised in Japan and gained a BA in Fine Art from Joshibi University of Art and Design in Tokyo. At the time, I was more interested in photography than painting. But after moving to New York, I realised that painting was my main interest. I took a drawing class at The Art Students League and started painting more seriously.”