Masayuki Takagi

Hello.

Thank you for your interest in my work.


Wonders of Consciousness

I think that people tend to look away from questions that are too close to home, questions that are fundamental.

Or perhaps God created the world in such a way that even if we tried to think about it, we would not...

Hello.

Thank you for your interest in my work.


Wonders of Consciousness

I think that people tend to look away from questions that are too close to home, questions that are fundamental.

Or perhaps God created the world in such a way that even if we tried to think about it, we would not be able to give a clear answer.


I am very interested in the subject of consciousness.

From the moment you are born into this world to the moment your life ends, consciousness is always with you.

It is so close to me that I cannot even be aware of (or pay attention to) my own consciousness, and I feel that it is so assimilated with myself.


After a long period of thinking about what to create next, and after a period of being in a difficult state of not being able to come up with an idea, that moment when something suddenly comes to my mind, no matter how many times I experience it, I always feel a sense of wonder, and at the same time, it is an experience that gives me a sense of peace of mind and joy.
It is an experience that gives me peace of mind and joy at the same time. (laughter)

(laughs) But, putting all that aside, that moment when something suddenly switches from being nothing to being something in consciousness, I have experienced that many times, and that is why I have become so interested in the subject of consciousness.


Where did this inspiration come from?

Such a question always comes to my mind. No matter how much I think about it, I cannot easily find the answer to that question. Still, the inspiration comes to my consciousness.

Instead of being unable to put a satisfactory answer into words, an artist can transform that feeling of wonder into the energy to continue creating, and leave it as a work of art.
This is why I continue to create. A work of art can be created without a concept.


The first step is to have an installation.


There is nothing wrong with thinking about the concept later, while interacting with the finished work, and in many cases, the artist himself can learn from the finished work.

Is that the wrong order? (laughter)


Interestingly enough.

Recently, it seems that consciousness itself is attracting more and more attention and discussion in the worlds of psychiatry, particle physics, and even spiritualism. I am very happy about this, and I sincerely hope that more and more research will be conducted from the standpoint of each specialist to deepen our awareness and understanding of consciousness.

Fortunately, the world of art is not bound by logic, and we are allowed to express ourselves according to our intuition, so I hope that you will allow me to create my works according to the images that come to my mind while considering the wonder of consciousness.


I will go further.

It may come as a surprise to you, but most of my work is improvisational in its creation.

Generally speaking, the word "improvisational," whether used to describe painting, music, or physical expression, is associated with emotion, vigor, and emotional energy.

In my case, however, I do not aim to express emotion, nor do I simply want to express myself with energy.

I would venture to say that I want to express in the purest form possible the internal images that come to my mind, in other words, I want to express the energy of consciousness, which is a metaphysical object, as material in this world, and I want to confirm or discern who the finished work is.


I personally believe that this is the same as the act of trying to open the door to truth.


Let's talk specifics.

My aluminum alloy works are made by a technique called "vanishing of the prototype.
Disappearing prototype is one of the casting production methods.
The original of the work is made of styrofoam. Styrofoam is easy to work with and does not require special tools or techniques (it can be done with a cutter knife and glue).
The process of giving form to the image is simple and allows one to concentrate on the consciousness (internal image) itself, which is very convenient for the creation of the work.
Less attention to the work means that you can concentrate on the image to the fullest extent.

The important thing is not just to work, but to realize the image in the world in the purest form possible.

I would also like to add that the stage before the work begins is actually a very important time.
It is a time to concentrate on consciousness itself, to bring your consciousness as close to the state of "nothingness" as possible.
Then, when an image appears in the "nothingness," it is important to capture it immediately.

I am very interested in the contrast between the absence of something and the presence of something.

The "disappearance of the prototype" technique allows me to instantly preserve the image that comes to my mind as a permanent material, and I can say that it is a very convenient production method for me.


To briefly explain the process, a prototype of styrofoam is buried in special sand to make a sand mold.
Then, molten alumina alloy is poured into the mold at high temperature.
The Styrofoam burns away, leaving behind a lump of alumina in the same shape as the Styrofoam.
The sand mold is broken and the lump of aluminum is removed.
The lump of metal is so covered with burrs that it cannot be called a work of art.
The burrs are removed one by one using a metal tongs.
Aluminum alloy is very hard, unlike pure aluminum, so this deburring process is very time-consuming.
After deburring, the work is finished by shaving and, in some cases, buffing.

The prototype can be made impromptu, but the actual casting process must be time-consuming and labor-intensive in order to be realized as a work of art.
However, although it is hard work, it is also an enjoyable process for me.


I have gone on for too long.
I think it is time to close the story.


Thank you very much for your patience with my long writing.