DENPAが奏でる人生の広げ方

2024年最後の展示として、沖縄を拠点に活躍する作家・DENPAの個展「よろこびのうたーThe Melody of Happinessー」を開催した。

DENPAは、自ら生み出すアートを軸に、その作品や展示に注ぐ情熱、準備段階での丁寧な手仕事、そして仕事の作法までが非常に美しい作家だ。その美意識は、会場に展示された自身の日記にも表れており、また、丸みを帯びたキャンバスの繊細な削り方にも宿っている。

彼の作品は多くを語らずとも、鑑賞者を視覚的な楽しさと疑問の渦へと引き込んでいく。この表現は目の前の海なのか、それとも沖縄の風景なのか——。見る者の想像力を刺激し、空間全体をアートとして感じさせる力がある。

また、展示期間中には、葉山のプロSUP王者・金子ケニー氏の店舗「Paddler」が新たな場所へ移転することを記念し、真名瀬海岸の海上からしか見ることのできない特別な壁に、DENPAがウォールアートを描いた。芸術を地域とつなげることで、人と人との輪が広がっていく。出会うべくして出会った人々が、芸術の価値をさらに高めていく——その瞬間を創り出せたことは、非常に光栄な出来事だった。これからも続く作家の日記の一部になれたらと思う。

DENPA Solo Exhibition "The Melody of Happiness"

For the final exhibition of 2024, Arts Lane hosted "The Melody of Happiness," a solo exhibition by Okinawa-based artist DENPA.

DENPA is an artist whose passion for his work extends beyond the pieces themselves to the meticulous preparation and thoughtful presentation of his exhibitions. His approach to craftsmanship, from the way he handles materials to the precision of his creative process, is strikingly beautiful. This sensibility is reflected in his personal journals, which were displayed at the exhibition, as well as in the delicate shaping of his rounded canvases.

His works do not rely on words, yet they effortlessly draw viewers into a vortex of visual delight and curiosity. Is this expression a reflection of the sea before us, or perhaps of the landscapes of Okinawa? His art has the power to engage the imagination, transforming the surrounding space into an immersive experience.

During the exhibition, as professional SUP champion Kenny Kaneko's Hayama-based shop, Paddler, prepared to relocate, DENPA was invited to create a wall mural on a special surface visible only from the sea at Morito Beach. By intertwining art with the local community, the exhibition became a bridge, connecting people through creativity. The moments shared among those who were meant to meet, elevating the value of art together, were truly an honor to witness. It is our hope that this exhibition has become a meaningful chapter in the ongoing journal of DENPA’s artistic journey.