K.Ohashi
Shadow Box
Two Generations of Japanese Shadow Box Art: Kanae Ohashi and Koji Ohashi
Shadow Box Art: Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Shadow Box is a captivating technique with its roots in the pastime of European nobility. It involves meticulously cutting out multiple copies of a single image, skillfully layering them with special adhesive to create depth, and thus, breathing life into the original picture by yielding a stunning three-dimensional effect. When light graces the finished piece, it almost magically comes to life.
Kanae Ohashi, the mother of artist Koji Ohashi, delved into this art form during her time in New York in the 1980s, bringing it back to Japan. Yet, she wasn't content with traditional images alone, such as those by Anton Pieck. She sought fresh inspiration from the likes of Michelangelo and Katsushika Hokusai, pushing the boundaries of precision in interpretation, cutting, and depth, achieving unparalleled quality. Her prowess even resonated in Europe, where this art form was born. In 2018, she received the prestigious Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Award, elevating her work from mere "craft" to the exalted realm of "art." Her creations are now celebrated as "three-dimensional art of light and shadow."
Kanae Ohashi's vision extended to nurturing the artistic spirits of young people and children, and this led her to explore the colorful and pop art style of her son, Koji Ohashi. In 2017, as part of preparations for his mother's major exhibition, Koji illustrated comic art featuring his original characters, "3-year-old boy Ruki-bon" and "Manhattan, Prince of Bears." Kanae masterfully transformed these into captivating Shadow Box Art. The resulting exhibition earned acclaim for its uplifting and enjoyable experience.
Since then, Koji has evolved his artistic journey, transitioning from digital tools to Copics and infusing elements of ukiyo-e, resulting in grand original masterpieces that stand as a testament to his growth over the past six years. The artworks showcased here represent the pinnacle of the collaboration between mother and son in the realm of Shadow Box Art, an unparalleled achievement in the global art scene.
Koji Ohashi
Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1970
Koji Ohashi's journey in art began with winning numerous painting contests during his childhood. However, it was during his time studying in junior high and high school in New York that he developed a unique, pop-inspired sense of color that set him apart from the traditional Japanese art style.
After transitioning into adulthood following college, Koji took a break from painting until 2016. It wasn't until 2017 that he rekindled his artistic passion by collaborating with his mother, Kanae Ohashi, who had a significant solo exhibition. This collaboration reignited his artistic sensibility, and he has since been creating vibrant and original artwork for his mother's Shadow Box Arts.
Monaco Japan Art Festival 2020
ZEN Exhibition 2023
Reiwa Ocean Dragons
Artist: Koji Ohashi
2022
Paper/Shadow Box
Size:H44.2㎝×W55.5㎝×D7.5㎝
Kanae Ohashi's unique Shadow Box technique breathes life into her son's original drawings, creating brilliant colors and dynamic compositions. She uses acrylics to cover the water surface and capture the reflection of light, resulting in an incredible technique where each water splash stands on its own by microscopic transparent pillars. The technique achieves an "order in chaos" effect, making it the ultimate in Shadow Box Art.
Thunder Gate
Artist: Koji Ohashi
2022
Paper/Shadow Box
Size:H44.2㎝×W55.5㎝×D8.0㎝
The Kaminari-mon (Thunder Gate) in Asakusa, Tokyo is a stunning example of symmetrical architecture. The Shadow Box technique has been used to create depth and three-dimensionality, resulting in a bright and lively image featuring two beautiful models, Miku Sakamoto and Miu Makabe, along with two original characters, Ruki-Bon (a 3-year-old boy with powerful eyes) and Manhattan (the Prince of Bears). The giant lantern is illuminated by LED lights, adding to the playful atmosphere.
Twin Dragons
Artist: Koji Ohashi
2022
Paper/Shadow Box
Size:H44㎝×W56㎝×D6.0㎝
This Shadow Box Art is a one-of-a-kind and highly unique composition depicting male and female dragons engaged in a passionate tangle. Through the use of 3-D techniques, this modern Japanese ukiyo-e art comes to life, with the dragons and clouds bursting with vivid colors and dynamism. The energy of the piece is almost palpable, as though the dragons are leaping out from the flames. Each scale is made with exquisite attention to detail, showcasing the transcendent technique used to create the artwork.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Artist: Koji Ohashi
2022
Paper/Shadow Box
Size:H44㎝×W55.5㎝×D7.5㎝
This artwork is filled with the vibrant energy of Shibuya, the most energetic town in Tokyo, which has been deeply familiar to Koji Ohashi since his student days. In particular, it depicts the iconic "Shibuya Scramble Crossing," now a globally renowned tourist spot, where pedestrians from all directions converge. The artwork is bursting with joy and imagination, as the artist fully utilized his creative vision to bring the bustling atmosphere of the crossing to life.
Kanae Ohashi
Born in Kobe, Japan in 1941During the 1980s, while living in New York due to her husband's job transfer, she honed her skills in Shadow Box art. Upon returning to Japan, she made dedicated efforts to promote and elevate it to the status of fine art.
Her achievements have earned her worldwide recognition, including the Grand Prix at the international art competition held at the Louvre Museum, recognition from the Vatican Museum, and the esteemed Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Award. She is widely acknowledged as a leading authority in the realm of Shadow Box Art.
1998 Grand Collectible Blue Award - AMSC (Spain) Headquarters
1999 Highest Award - Overseas Art Exchange Association (Italy) Headquarters
2000 Grand Prize - Ecological Earth Art 21, Craft Division
2003 Grand Prix - Carousel du Louvre Tricolor Art Peace Award
2006 Fiera D’arte Giapponese Natale (Vatican Museums)
2013 Special Art Grand Prize - Salzburg Palace Museum, 90th Anniversary
2017 Selected for "Kami no Te Nippon" (God's Hand Japan) Phase III
2018 The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
2020 Monaco Art Bridge Prize
2021 Shadow Box in Japan Highest Honor Award
2023 ZEN Exhibition Committee Award
THE TALE OF GENJI
Artist: Kanae Ohashi
Shadow Box by Kanae Ohashi H39cm×W47cm×D10cm
Paper, Shadowbox
2017
Selected for "Kami noTe Nippon" (God's Hand Japan) Phase III
53 Stations of the Tokaido
(Hiroshige Ando)
Artist: Kanae Ohashi
The Great Wave off Kanagawa
(Hokusai)
Artist: Kanae Ohashi
2023
Weight:1.6kg
Paper/Shadow Box
Size:H31㎝×W59㎝×D5㎝
Last Judgment
Artist: Kanae Ohashi
2008 (There are 2003, 2005 and 2008 versions)
Paper/Shadow Box
Size:H94㎝×W87㎝×D10.5㎝
Weight:11.7kg
When I started my journey with shadow box art, I had decided that my final piece would be "The Last Judgment." In search of inspiration, I visited the Vatican Museums in Rome and brought back the painting with "The Creation " to incorporate into my work. Over the course of six months, I poured all my energy into creating this piece.
When I stood before the completed artwork, I felt an overflow of power emanating from it. Instead of an ending, I began to think of it as a new beginning. And so, it has come to this present moment. People who view the exhibition tell me that they draw power from this artwork. It has always been traveling around Europe. When it was exhibited at the Carousel du Louvre in the Louvre Museum, I was deeply moved to hear that children would sit in front of this artwork.
- Kanae Ohashi
