I am Oneness Artist, Kota |

Table of Contents

Short CV

Kota | Oneness Artist

Born on July 7, 1990, in Ota City, Tokyo. At one point, I traveled the world solo for about two years. During this journey, I faced life-threatening situations and many hardships, but it allowed him to rediscover the vastness of the world, its beauty, the warmth of people, and the incredible power of art. In the depths of a mountain in Mexico, I had a profound mystical experience. Through this, I came to understand that all things in the cosmos are one—Oneness—and made a firm decision to contribute to the world through art in this lifetime. After approximately four years of art activity in Tokyo, I have been based in The Hague, Netherlands, since the summer of 2024, continuing my creative journey.

Kota | Artist Statement

Cosmic Rhythm

The central concept of my work is Oneness — the philosophical idea that all existence within the cosmos is one. My practice is an attempt to visualize this belief through my original painting method, Cosmic Rhythm.

This approach expresses harmony with nature by painting directly on wood. I regard the wood grain as traces carved by natural forces — time, weather, gravity, seasons, and rotation — an imprint of the cosmic rhythm itself. By painting in tune with this rhythm, I weave stories in which nature and humanity, past and future, the individual and the whole, come into harmony. This approach resonates with the teaching of Shakyamuni (ca. 5th–6th century BCE) on the interdependence of all things, as well as with the Japanese spiritual aesthetics of Wabi-sabi, nature worship, and Ichigo Ichie.

Through my work, I hope that viewers will feel the rhythm of the cosmos and find new perspectives and insight — and that it may help bring a gentle light of hope into our world.

Solo Exhibition

Group Exhibition

Performance

Events

Donated

The His Majesty The Emperor | 2022 (more info)

Award

Luxembourg Art Prize | certificate of artistic merit | 2021 (more info)

Teaching

Tokyo | Art teaching | Atelier Chicora | 2019 - 2020

Episode 0

The bizarre story of how I became an artist.

A mysterious account of how I, Kota, unexpectedly began walking the path of an artist without ever attending art school. Born into an ordinary family, I graduated from a regular university, got a job at a company in Tokyo, and started my life as a salaryman.I lived carefully, always trying to blend in with those around me, making sure I didn’t stray from society’s rails. But one day, I stepped off those rails. After working at the company for about three years, I quit and set off on a solo journey around the world that lasted nearly two years. In Canada, I faced racial discrimination and worked on a remote island farm, living as a farmhand. In Alaska, I experienced a brutally primitive life in the middle of a frozen forest where everything was covered in ice. I encountered countless people, said goodbye just as many times, laughed endlessly, cried often, and even came close to death a few times. Then, toward the end of my journey, I arrived in Mexico. In a misty little village atop a mountain, I had an overwhelming, mystical experience. I realized that "everything is one." It was there that I decided to dedicate this life to contributing to the world through art.

Kota

Oneness Artist

I am Oneness Artist, Kota

Short CV

Kota | Artist Statement

Notes

Kota | Artist Mission

Cosmic Rhythm Works

Cosmic Rhythm Series

About Collecting Works

List of works

Episode 0

Kota