about me
Haruka Sasaki
“Expression is my dedication;
a reflection of the spiritual journey of life.
find the unseen, transforming things to the visible.
I am transmitting.
I am talking to your heart with my expressions.”
Haruka was born and raised in Nagano, Japan where she was surrounded by large expanses of nature. This upbringing is the root of her intuitive emotional approach. Her spiritual awareness is informed by Buddhist philosophy, Shinto traditions, and a belief in spirits residing in nature (Nature spirits). These spiritual matters are integral to the culture of daily life in Japan and are communicated in the family, community, and the environment.
From the age of twelve to fifteen, Haruka participated in the traditional performance of Mikomai, a sacred dance performance dedicated to the Shinto gods, during her region’s rituals and festivals.
Later, she began to paint, inspired by the world’s ancient cultures and mythologies.
In 2011, she moved to Berlin, Germany as a freelance artist.
As an expressionist, Haruka works to honor the Japanese sense of color and balance and expresses a powerful, sensitive feminine force with her brush stroke. By using a “living line” in her paintings, she strives to capture the pure energy of life and create a connection with the primitive self. Because she believes all living things—even inanimate materials—have their own gods and spirits, she pays respect to the invisible with her art.
Since 2017, she has been collaborating with musicians on improvisational live performances of Sumi-e painting and touring in Europe. Her movements with the brush or fan during her performance shake the air, and the sound elements speak to the spirits. (CV)
長野県生まれ。ベルリン在住アーティスト。北アルプスを代表する山々にかこまれる長野県と、特別な癒しのエネルギーに満ちた自然と身近に触れながら育ち、直感的な感覚を大切に物事と向き合う。10代の頃地域に伝わる伝統芸能(巫女舞)に携わり、いにしえの神道の精神や仏教哲学を生活の中から学ぶ。
世界の古代文明やアートにインスパイアされ絵を描き始める。力強くもやわらかい女性的なラインと日本人的な色彩・バランス感覚をベースに、生命のもつ純粋なエネルギーや自然、原始的感覚への回帰を筆先に込めている。
2011年にドイツ・ベルリンに移住。 以降、フリーランスアーティストとしてベルリンをはじめヨーロッパ、ニューヨークなど様々なロケーションで作品展示、ライブペインティングパフォーマンス、即興音楽家とのコラボレーションによる即興墨絵パフォーマンス、サウンドパフォーマンス、ワークショップ開催など様々な活動を通し、自身の中にある更なる潜在的な感覚を探求しながら、作品制作を通してメッセージを表現し続けている。
近年は様々な国のバックグラウンドを持つ人々とのコラボレーションワークや共同プロジェクトを精力的に行うことで互いに学びあうとともに、自身の日本人としてのアイデンティティ・精神性をより深めその表現を通してより太く世界と結びつき、地球と祖先への敬意を今に還元する。
商業プロダクトとの作品コラボや、本やLPへのカバーアートワーク提供など、プロダクションや他アーティストとのコラボレーションも多岐にわたる。
Upcoming
- Art fair
2023 14. - 16. July
EuropArtFair
De Gashouder Westergas - Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Exhibition
2023 30. May - 04. June
Group Exhibition - Haus der Statistik • Konserve im OTTO, Berlin, Germany
2023 01. - 30. June
Online Exhibition June 2023 show, “Water” - Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, Everett, PA, USA
2023 Autumn
Solo Exhibition - Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany
- Workshop
Occasional
Art workshop
(if you are interested, please message me via contact page)
Previous Exhibition
2022 28. December
International Art Exhibition "Brain Cake" GAUDI ROOM - CASA MILA' "LA PEDRERA" - Barcellona, Spain
2022 28. April - 05. May
International Art Exhibition "YELLOW" – M.A.D.S ART GALLERY – Milano, Italy / Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
2021 24. Sep - 12. Nov
Solo Exhibition 2021 "Reflexion" – Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany
2021 25. Jan - 18. Sep
Group Exhibition "160 Jahre Japan-Deutschland" – Gesundheitszentrum, Berlin, Germany
2020 21. Aug - 04. Sep
Group exhibition "Kunstmeile Lichtenberg" - Haruka Sasaki at EIS KAFFEE, Berlin, Germany
2019 29. Mar - 13. Jun
Solo Exhibition "Deine Innere Erde" – Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany
2018 29. Nov - 20. Dec
Solo Exhibition "elemente" – Artist Homes, Berlin, Germany
2018 14. Sep
Group Exhibition “Khayamiya zwischenraum” at Lange Nacht der Bilder Lichtenberg - BLO ATELIER, Berlin, Germany
2018 01 - 24. Jun
Group Exhibition "Wilder Garten creation castle" – Werkhalle Wiesenburg, Berlin, Germany
2017 20. jul - 19. Oct
Solo Exhibition "DEINE INNERE QUELLE" – Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany
2017 14. Feb
Group Exhibition – The Loft NYC 47th Anniversary, NY, USA
2015 12 - 15. Sep
Solo Exhibition – Lemoart, Berlin, Germany
2015 05. Jun - 03. Jul
Group Exhibition – Lemoart, Berlin, Germany
2013 16. Jul
Exhibition – BLO-Ateliers, Berlin, Germany
Performance
2020. 28. Aug
"Sound Painting" -improvisation- Sound & Art Performance
Thomas Zimmermann × Haruka Sasaki - Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany
2019. 27 - 29. September
Sumi-e Painting performance at FORTALICYJNE FESTIVAL - Zamosc, Poland
In collaboration with Piotr Stefanski, Paweł Dudziński
2019. 18 - 26. Jun
”Sumi-e | Sound Painting" performance tour 2019 (Germany & Poland) : 6 shows
Sumi-e live painting: Haruka Sasaki Music: Haruhiko Okabe (Sax, Hichiriki /JP)
Locations: Völkerkundemuseum Herrnhut, Herrnhut, Germany // Macondo, Wrocław, Poland // Nowina 5, Polska, Poland // Lubiąż, Poland // Artist Homes, Berlin, Germany // Werkhalle Wiesenburg, Berlin, Germany
2019. 13. Jun
Sound performance in collaboration with the guitarist Naomi Motomura and the leaves of word by Haruka for the Finissage of Haruka's solo exhibition.. // Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany
2018. 12 - 17. Jun
”Sumi-e | Sound Painting" performance tour in Germany : 6 shows
in collaboration with Günter Heinz & Haruhiko Okabe
Locations: Kleinwaltersdorf Kirche, Freiberg // UNI IM BAUERNHAUS GOSSBERG, Grossberg // im Kurpark von Thermalbad Wiesenbad, Thermalbad Wiesenbad // BlaueFablik, Dresden // Werkhalle Wiesenburg, Berlin // Artist-Homes, Berlin - Germany
2017. 10 - 13. Aug
"Sumi-e | Sound Painting” Performance tour in Germany : 4 shows
Live Painting: Haruka Sasaki (Sumi-e) Impro Music: Günter Heinz (Trombone, Flute etc /DE) & Haruhiko Okabe (Sax, Hichiriki /JP)
Locations: Galerie Nicolaikirche, Auerbach // Annenkapelle Freiberg (am Dom) // Blaue Fabrik Dresden // Frauenkreise, Berlin - Germany
2016. 30. Aug - 05. Sep
Live Painting Performance – Odyssia Festival // Alepokhóri, Greece
2013. August
Live Painting Performance – Lichtblick Festival // Berlin, Germany
Lectures / Workshops
2020. October- Occasional
Workshops for children at Young Arts Donaustraße
2020. 01-03. July
Calligraphy workshop for children "Vielfalt der Kalligraphie"
at Young Arts Donaustraße
– with Hanaa El Degham, Melina Castillo and Dimitra Merz
2019. 15. April
Painting workshop for children "Haiku und Bild" at Shapes of Haiku – Lettrétage
2019. 19. May
Sumi-e painting workshop "Pinsel-Kunst" at Shapes of Haiku – Lettrétage
Seen in published productions
Snowboard
– "Ai Kunioka signature model" / Seascape 149 by VOLTAGEdesign (JP)
Snowboard
– "Takashi Minamiura signature model" Dream Of Jade / VIKING 160 by VOLTAGEdesign (JP)
Book Cover Illustration
- Matilda TheeGreat "The Foreign Me!" by AuthorHouseUK (UK)
Album cover artwork
– Sizzla & Savona “COLD WAR the remix EP” by Muti Music (USA)
Snowboard
– “Mermaid" 2015-2016 model / The Snow Surf Series by GENTEMSTICK (JP)
Illustration work (animation)
– short film “The Saviour” opening animation
(Director: Charlotte Roustang / Awards & screenings in Berlin, Hof, Houston, Mumbai, Paris 2014-2015)
EP label artwork
– G. Mitchell & Jebski feat. Kengo Ono "Natsu EP1” by PAD (JP)
DVD cover artwork
- ykanoa × sakti “Pile Of Time” by PileOfTime (JP)