Many shun abstract art because they find it difficult to understand. However, in terms of both colour and shape, Kaz Orii’s paintings rstand are somehow warm and thereby easier to become intimate with. Perhaps this is because Orii’s artwork is based upon his interactions with nature through farm work that he does co-currently with his art. Orii’s experience of nature while handling the earth has led to a wonder that comes from life growing out of a seed and the variance dependant upon temperatures and humidity and Japan’s four seasons. This careful observation of nature including his awe, sense of being moved, and joy, has unexpectedly nurtured the style with which he faces the canvas.

His recent interest is the incredible energy apparent in specific moments – like the calm before a storm, or in a rainbow after the rain. These expressions of nature are fascinating because they closely correlate with human emotions. Orii was found by Akko Art Gallery’s Tokyo representative and curator Yukio Ogushi who chose him to be in Bridge 2007, the second biennale Japanese Contemporary group exhibition held at Akko Art Gallery Bangkok, Thailand. The high standard used in choosing the artists by curator, Yukio Ogushi and artist-curator Kato Shojiro led to admiration among both art critics and the media.

Akko Art Gallery therefore arranged to present Kaz Orii for his first solo exhibition in Asia outside of Japan. Images Breakdown in 2008. This was very well received and led to additional numerous solo exhibitions within a year in Singapore, Poland and Portugal.

Abstracted Nature is Orii’s second solo exhibition at Akko Art Gallery in 2010. Please do find colours and shapes that you like within his paintings and spend some time with a special piece and see what the painting will say to you.