Profile
「Motomura Takku(本村卓空)」（日本語は下です）
Born in 1982. Residing in Kitakyushu City, Japan. Born with autism and unable to communicate with others. Losing 96% of vision with a rare disease, but primarily creates art with themes related to deities and gods.
Unique lines are drawn within the remaining field of vision. His artworks with mysterious transparency and detailed lines are cherished by many fans as “Peaceful Heart Paintings.”
2011. 08.23. The first solo exhibition, “Prayer, the World of Buddhas,” held at Riverwalk Kitakyushu. KBCTV News Pia aired a special program titled “Painting Prayers from the Heart,” which received a significant response.
2011. 10. A print of “Karura Hinga” was donated to the Kitakyushu School for the Visually Impaired.
2012.03. An original painting titled “Dragon Above the Clouds” was dedicated to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
2012.03. The second solo exhibition, “Playing in the Fields,” took place at the Izutsuya Kokura Store Gallery.
2012.05. A special limited edition print of “Eleven-faced Kannon” was donated to the city of Kitakyushu.
2012.05. The original painting “Heavenly Person Tang Grass, Nirvana” was preserved at Kongoin Temple in Tokyo.
2012.06. A print of “Portrait of Oda Nobunaga” was dedicated to Kenkon Shrine in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture.
2013.08. An exhibition of original works by Takaku Homura was held at Moji Port Retro, the former Moji Customs Building.
2013.09. an exhibition of paintings by Takaku Homura, titled “Prayers,” was held at the Izutsuya Kokura Main Store.
2014.01.22-06. A large-scale sales event for “Heartfelt Products” was held at Fukuoka Mitsukoshi. 2014.07.22-27. A solo exhibition was held at the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art in the Citizen’s Gallery (next to Kokura Station ComCity 3F).
2015. An art collection titled “Takaku’s World” was published.
2016.01.16-19. An exhibition of paintings by Takaku Homura titled “Prayers” was held at the Maruzen Gallery in Tokyo’s Maruzen Main Store.
2017.03.31-04.02. An exhibition of paintings by Takaku Homura titled “Prayers” was held at Maruzen Gallery, Fukuoka Store, Junckdo Bookstore.
2019.09.02-09. An exhibition of paintings by Takaku Homura titled “Prayers” was held at the Koyasan Gallery at Kongo-in Temple in Wakayama.
2021.06.26-07.15. An exhibition titled “Takaku Homura, Ryuji Kazamatsuri, Takamitsu Miyamoto” was held at a special venue on the 2nd floor of the Amabiki Kannon Hombu in Ibaraki Prefecture.
2023.10.21-22. There will be an exhibition at “The Brewery Artwalk” in Los Angeles.
Solo Exhibition Dedicated to Late Mother – January 2016
Despite coping with developmental disorders and a progressive debilitating illness that narrowed his field of vision, Takaku Homura (real name: Takuya), a painter from Nishi Ward, Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyushu City, creates vibrant Buddhist paintings. He is currently holding a solo exhibition in Marunouchi, Tokyo. This Tokyo exhibition was the long-cherished dream of his mother, Terumi, who had been working together with him in their creative endeavors, using their unique approach of working together despite her physical limitations. Tragically, Terumi passed away suddenly at the age of 57, just about a month ago. Takaku and his family are determined to overcome their grief and dedicate the success of the solo exhibition to his mother in heaven. (By Shuta Yamane)
Takaku struggled with communication difficulties from a young age and faced school refusal during his middle school years. Later, he was diagnosed with developmental disorders, and he also suffered from a progressive degenerative disease called retinitis pigmentosa, which severely restricted his field of vision. At present, he has lost most of his vision. However, he has a deep passion for painting, and in 2009, when Terumi presented him with painting materials, he started drawing Buddhist images without any formal training. “He doesn’t talk to people much, and he can hardly see, but it seems like he keeps drawing the images of Buddhas as if seeking salvation from something,” says his father, Tetsuya (62). The true reason why Takaku paints deities and Buddhas remains a mystery even to his family.
In December of the previous year, he published his first art collection, “Art Collection: Takaku’s World of Prayers” (published by Nippo Publishing), which included 47 pieces of artwork from the approximately 200 he had created until then. These included Buddhist paintings and depictions of Christian saints. The collection also featured haiku poetry that Terumi had pursued as a hobby for over 20 years. The solo exhibition was planned in celebration of this publication.
However, just eight days after the publication, the family received tragic news. Terumi, who had been in Osaka attending a haiku gathering, suddenly passed away in her sleep at the hotel. It was an unexpected cardiac arrest during her sleep. Tetsuya says with a heavy heart, “She was traveling between Tokyo and Kitakyushu for the solo exhibition… I still can’t believe it.” Takaku appeared crestfallen as well, but he never put down his paintbrush and continued to focus on his artwork. Despite the hustle and bustle of memorial services and other responsibilities, Tetsuya and Takaku continued preparations for the solo exhibition. “Before he loses his vision completely, I want as many people as possible to see his art and experience Takaku’s worldview,” Tetsuya says, sharing his heartfelt desire. He adds, “My wife used to say she wanted to make the Tokyo exhibition a success, just like a mantra. She also expressed her wish to encourage people suffering from the same illness. I hope many people will come and appreciate the art, along with explanatory notes to help them understand it better.”
「Motomura Takku(本村卓空)」プロフィール
昭和57年生。北九州市在住。自閉症のため人と話せず、難病で視野の96%を失うが、神仏を主なテーマに絵を描く。残された視野に引かれる独特の線。不思議な透明感を持った作品は、「こころ安らぐ絵」として多くのファンに親しまれている。
2011年8月 初個展「祈り・みほとけの世界」開催
(於・リバーウォーク北九州) KBCTVニュースピアが「心で描く祈りの絵」として特集番組を放映。反響を呼んだ。
2011年10月北九州視覚特別支援学校に版画『迦陵頻伽』寄贈
2012年3月太宰府天満宮に原画『雲上麒麟之図』を奉納
3月 第二回個展「野遊び」(於・井筒屋黒崎店ギャラリー)
5月北九州市に『十一面観音』(特別限定版画)を寄贈
5月東京・金剛院に『天人唐草・涅槃』(原画)収蔵
6月山形県天童市建勲神社に版画『織田信長公之肖像』奉納
2013年8月本村卓空原画展(門司港レトロ・旧門司税関)
9月本村卓空・祈りの絵画展(於・井筒屋小倉店本館)
2014年1/22～26 福岡三越「まごころ製品」大規模販売会に出品
7月22～27日北九州市立美術館市民ギャラリー(黒崎駅横コムシティ3F)にて個展開催
2015年 画集・卓空の世界出版
2016年1月16日～19日 東京丸善丸の内本店ギャラリーにて
本村卓空・祈りの絵画展開催
2017年3月31日～4月2日 福岡ジュンク堂書店福岡店MARUZENギャラリーにて
本村卓空・祈りの絵画展開催
2019年9月2日～9日 和歌山金剛峯寺高野山ギャラリーにて
本村卓空・祈りの絵画展開催
2021年6月26日～7月15日 茨城県雨引観音本坊2階特別会場にて
本村卓空・風祭竜二・宮本隆光展
2023年10月21&22日 ロサンゼルス ザ・ブリューリー・アートウォーク出品
母と2人3脚で走ったアートの道：亡き母へささぐ
亡き母にささぐ個展 2016年1月
発達障害と視野が狭くなる難病を抱えな がらも色彩豊かな仏画を描く北九州市八幡 西区の絵師、本村卓空（本名・卓也）さん (33）が、東京・丸の内で個展を開いている。 東京での個展は、二人一＝脚で創作活動に取 り組んできた母、照美さんの悲願だったが、 約1か月前に57歳で急逝した。卓空さんと 家族は悲しみを乗り越え、「個展の成功を 天国の母にささげたい」
としている。 （山根秀太）
卓空さんは幼少期から意 思疎通が苦手で、中学校で 不登校に。その後、発達障 害と診断され、視野が狭く なる進行性の難病・網膜色 素変性症も患った。今では 視野のほとんどを失ってい る。ただ、絵を描くのが好 きで、2009年に照美さ んが画材をプレゼントした ところ、誰から教えられる わけでもなく、神仏の絵を 描き始めたという。 「人と話さず、目もほと んど見えませんが、何かに救いを求めるように、 仏の姿を描き続けている ようです」と父・哲也さん (62）。卓空さんが神仏を描 く本当の理由は、家族にも わからないという。 昨年12月5日、初の作品 集「画集・卓空の世界祈 り」（日貿出版社）を出版。 これまでに描いた約200 点の作品の中から、仏画や一心ーキリスト教の聖人を描いた作品など47点を載せた。作品には、照美さんが20年以 上趣味で続けていた俳旬を載せている。個展は、この出 版記念として企画された。
ところが出版の8日後、突然悲報が届いた。俳句の会合で大阪に行っていた照美さんが就寝中にホテルで亡くなった。就寝中に突然心臓が止まる突然死だったという。「個展に向けて東 京と北九州を飛び回っていたのに……。今でも信じら れない」と哲也さんは肩を 落とす。卓空さんも塞ぎ込 んだような様子だったが、 筆を置くことはなく、絵に 向き合った。告別式などで 慌ただしい中、哲也さんと 個展の準備を進めた。 「完全に失明してしまう 前に、少しでも多くの人に 絵を見てもらい卓空の世界 観を感じてほしい」。そんな親心から、照美さんは生前、 「東京で個展を成功させた い」とロ癖のように話していたという。哲也さんは「妻 は『同じ病気に悩む人たちを励ましたい』とも語って いた。多くの人に足を運んを、絵の説明文とともに添一でほしい」と話している。