Kenzo Taruishi:Blue Bird

9 - 30 April 2022 BACK_Y

The book 'L'Oiseau Bleu' was written by Belgian author Maurice Maeterlinck in 1908. The blue bird is adopted as the spiritual concept throughout the story, symbolising the eternal pursuit of happiness by human beings. The meaning of the word happiness is supreme beauty, though It also alludes to its changeable and elusive qualities, yet even this is enough to drive us to pursue it with a lifetime of effort. Similar to the purpose and function of art in a civilised society, the pursuit of art by human beings in history has fully demonstrated humans' strong desire to explore unknown mysteries, realise the meaning of life, and finally capture happiness.

In the large-scale paintings of Japanese artist Kenzo Taruishi, through the arrangement of fresh and pastel colours and simple and soft lines, he creates a sense of innocent images that appear to be almost deliberately manipulated. Beneath the silent surface, the artist abandons the trivial details and captures the expressions of the characters to present the unique symbolism of animation paintings.


Akin to a beautiful and silent mime, it interprets the restless emotions in the images. The conflicting emotions in his paintings leave the audience curious and confused as they seek, to gain a hint of enlightenment amid the chaotic and abundant emotional storm. No matter whether the same is true of blue birds, happiness, and art, only the real and pure existence that is without impurities can inspire people to brave the path of life in pursuit of their initial hope of achieving happiness.