Hitomi Aoki, "Into the Miniature Garden"

Haven Gallery is pleased to present “Into the Miniature Garden”, a solo show of new paintings from Japan based Hitomi Aoki for her first solo show at the gallery. Hitomi’s works are created with ink and watercolor, in impressively small, tightly rendered compositions, reminiscent of historical, miniature artworks. Inspired by motifs and aesthetics spanning history and the globe, one finds influence from many cultures, timelessly depicted and theatrically presented, encapsulating the viewer into a world enshrouded in mystery, magic and the unearthly. One can find aesthetic inspirations from Japan, India and even Persia through the influence of flora, clothing and patterned ornamentation, as well as illustrative tendencies from the West via the Golden Age of Illustration artists working out of England and the United States. An amalgamation of influences coalescing into surrealscapes revealing the inner dialogues and emotions of the artist are portrayed in fairytalesque narratives captivating and transporting viewers to a place only found in dreams. About Hitomi Aoki Hitomi Aoki was born in Gifu prefecture in 1987. She studied at Tama Art University and majored in oil painting. She now lives in Kanagawa prefecture. She consistently draws mysterious life forms with overwhelming detailed lines and dots drawings by using papers and pen. Motifs of her works are made of intertwined ivy, petals and various parts of animals. Her consciousness spreads into every corner of these motifs and they bring us breathtaking surprise and pleasure to follow these motifs with our eyes. Artist Statement I shape the anxiety and fear that grows in my mind, and reconstruct it like a scene from a fairy tale. For me, “drawing” is also a magical ritual that transforms evil things and beloved things and enshrines them on the altar.