CV
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.
While still in high school in 1999, she won the First Prize in a National Competition for the symbol logo design of the Nagano Winter National Athletic Meet.
Studied graphic, product, interior, furniture, and architecture design, along with drawing and color theory, at Yamazaki Academy in Japan. Graduated with a Design Diploma in 2002. She began her professional career as an urban planning consultant, working on public environmental planning for prefectures and municipalities, including historic environment preservation and park planning. She then her field to graphic design and gained experience.
In 2011, she moved her base to Berlin, Germany as a freelance artist.
On the basis of the experience she has gained up to that point, 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.
In recent years, she has been actively engaged in collaborative work with people from various national backgrounds, learning from each other, deepening her own Japanese identity and spirituality, and through her expression, connecting more deeply with the world and returning her respect for the earth and ancestors to the present.
Haruka Sasaki, an experienced professional artist in the field of art & design for more than 20 years. Striving to create with meticulous attention to detail and thrive on exciting art projects such as art performance, collaboratiing with some different type of artists and companies.
The fields of activity are diverse: Painting (with multiple techniques), Live painting, Sumi-e painting impro performance, Art performance, Sound performance, Graphic design, Graphic art, Illustration, Product design / manufacturing and Art teaching.
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。
高校在学中に長野国体のシンボルマークデザイン全国公募で最優秀賞を受賞。
デザイン専門学校でインテリア、家具、建築、グラフィック、プロダクトなど多様なデザインを学び、卒業後は都市計画コンサルタントとしてキャリアをスタート。都道府県の公共環境計画、歴史的環境の保存、公園づくり、道路計画など各市町村のコンセプトや人々の生活に根ざした環境の立体と平面のプランニングに携わる。3年の後、グラフィックデザイナーに転向し、その後単身渡独を決める。
2011年にドイツ・ベルリンに移住。 これまでに培ってきた経験を基盤に、フリーランスアーティストとして表現に生きることを決意する。
ベルリンをはじめヨーロッパ諸国、ニューヨーク(US) 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、自身の中にある潜在的な感覚を更に探求しながら、作品制作に魂からの思いを込め、表現を通してメッセージを発信し続けている。
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。
Past experiences, emotions and sensations are the protagonists of the Japanese contemporary artist Haruka Sasaki's works.
Strength and energy hover around her paintings that come alive thanks to bright colors and moving shapes. Each element, whether alive or inanimate, has a soul: the artist tries to represent it through her works according to her imagination.
Haruka's art speaks of the world around us; Haruka's art speaks to the heart of the beholder.
- Art Curator Camilla Gilardi
Exhibitions
2022
Group Exhibition International Art Exhibition "Brain Cake" GAUDI ROOM - CASA MILA' "LA PEDRERA" - Barcellona, Spain – 28. Dec
Group Exhibition International Art Exhibition "YELLOW" – M.A.D.S ART GALLERY – Milano, Italy / Fuerteventura, Canary Islands – 28. April - 05. May
2021
Solo Exhibition 2021 "Reflexion" – Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany – 24. Sep - 12. Nov
Group Exhibition"160 Jahre Japan-Deutschland" – Gesundheitszentrum, Berlin, Germany – 25. Jan - 18. Sep
2020
Group exhibition"Kunstmeile Lichtenberg" - Haruka Sasaki at EIS KAFFEE, Berlin, Germany – 21. Aug - 04. Sep
2019
Solo Exhibition"Deine Innere Erde" – Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany – 29. Mar - 13. Jun
2018
Solo Exhibition"elemente" – Artist Homes, Berlin, Germany – 29. Nov - 20. Dec
Group Exhibition“Khayamiya zwischenraum” at Lange Nacht der Bilder Lichtenberg - BLO ATELIER, Berlin, Germany – 14. Sep
Group Exhibition"Wilder Garten creation castle" – Werkhalle Wiesenburg, Berlin, Germany – 01 - 24. Jun
2017
Solo Exhibition"DEINE INNERE QUELLE" – Frauenkreise, Berlin, Germany – 20. jul - 19. Oct
Group Exhibition"The Loft NYC 47th Anniversary" – LOFT, NY, USA – 14. Feb
2015
Solo Exhibition– Lemoart, Berlin, Germany – 12 - 15. Sep
Group Exhibition– Lemoart, Berlin, Germany – 05. Jun - 03. Jul
2013
Exhibition– BLO-Ateliers, Berlin, Germany - 16. Jul
Performance
2020
"Sound Painting" -improvisation- Sound & Art Performance - Thomas Zimmermann × Haruka Sasaki - Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany - 28. Aug
2019
Sumi-e Painting performance at FORTALICYJNE FESTIVAL - Zamosc, Poland In collaboration with Piotr Stefanski, Paweł Dudziński - 27 - 29. September
”Sumi-e | Sound Painting" performance tour 2019 (Germany & Poland) : 6 shows - 2019. 18 - 26. Jun
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
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 - 13. Jun
2018
”Sumi-e | Sound Painting" performance tour in Germany : 6 shows - 12 - 17. Jun
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
"Sumi-e | Sound Painting” Performance tour in Germany : 4 shows - 10 - 13. Aug
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
Live Painting Performance – Odyssia Festival // Alepokhóri, Greece - 30. Aug - 05. Sep
2013
Live Painting Performance – Lichtblick Festival // Berlin, Germany - August
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)