Small Land

Masaki Sato, Small soil, 2025, Oil, acrylic, sand, linen and string on wood, 18.5 x 14 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and AISHO.

 

AISHO Tokyo is honoured to present Japanese artist Masaki Sato’s first solo exhibition “Small Land” from September 12 to October 11, 2025.

Born in 1980 in Iwate Prefecture, Masaki Sato is a self-taught artist who pursued his unique artistic expression without formal art school education. He currently continues his practice based in Tokyo.

For over 20 years, he has consistently depicted a peculiar quadrilateral shape that could neither be called a trapezoid nor a parallelogram, using various methods. This shape is not anyone’s icon, nor does it carry any special meaning or value. Sato explains that he “repeatedly uses this shape as a temporary form of words containing countless interpretations.”

In this exhibition titled “Small Land,” an installation work is placed at the center of the gallery, surrounded by various styles of artwork including large oil paintings, shaped canvases, and pieces incorporating light sources.

Regarding this exhibition, Sato states, “No matter how poor the land may be, land always contains possibilities, and possibilities never cease to exist.” The various expressions through these “certain shapes” spread before us awaken all of the viewer’s perceptions.

We invite you to experience Sato’s solo exhibition, which transcends time and style, supports our creative possibilities, and evokes the fundamental nature of people and things. Along with the exhibited works, you can also view some of his past works in archive format. An opening reception with the artist will be held on the opening day, September 12. We warmly welcome you and your companions to visit the gallery!

 

Masaki Sato, 〈Theirs〉20.Jul, 2025, Iron, acrylic, LED and wood, 113 x 85.3 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and AISHO.

 

Masaki Sato, A Song for the Sense of Touch_03, 2025, Mixed media, size variable. Courtesy of the Artist and AISHO.

 

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