Born in the Iwate prefecture of Japan, Takayuki Matsumine spent his childhood years surrounded by the abundant beauty of nature in Japanese suburbia, in an environment filled with vivid seasonal changes.

He was raised with rich inspiration to draw from nature and was also greatly influenced by his grandparents who were local traditional folk artists.

At the age of 16, a fatal ski accident resulted in the injury destructing his cervical spinal cord. Life, thereon after changed dramatically.

He began to exist in a duality. Living between the desire to live and the gratitude, joy, and appreciation towards life, and on the other hand what felt was daily hardship and suffering. Yet these counter-opposite positions together within him ignited his artistic creations, fueling his motivation.

“After the fatal accident, ordinary simply disappeared from my daily life. The mundane routines we take for granted were now brought to my consciousness.”

Through his daily unpredictable physical condition, and his new routines that encompassed no normalcy, as he had known, a new perception of what it means to live had surfaced.

“People experience life with their entire physical self. Because I was only left with the nerves and functions of my neck and above, I feel my senses are heightened.”

While his physical mobility was compromised from his neck down, it amplified the workings of his mind. His intellectual curiosity became limitless, from the small unnoticed things in life, such as your very own senses to cutting edge science and technology. His cycle of artistic and human evolution has been the findings of these new points of views, perceptions, absorbing them into his self, and repurposing them for his creative expression.

If the accident is what opened my mind and eyes to all that I now see, I may have to consider it a ‘perfect moment’.

Life and death is an eternal theme. Yet, it is within these two points that we exist, pulled by gravity, in the non-existing and ever-passing concept we call time. And the struggles one faces in the “now” is where Taka draws his inspirations and aspires to portray.

Work History

Takayuki entered the world of graphic design at the age of 19. He delved deeply into 2D digital design, mastering Photoshop and Illustrator. His design clientele varied from bands, event merchandise, and TV networks such as NHK and companies like Red Bull Japan to name a few. Within the 2D graphic realm, he carved out a unique and recognizable design style, of layering as much as 900 digital layers.

In 2017 he made his shift into the Fine Arts world. The journey of creating pieces that were intimate, personal and conceptual began, and has produced successful solo exhibits in Japan.

His art pieces can be grouped into two bodies of works. The source of inspiration and concepts dictates these categories.

One is from his life experience, rooted heavily on his accident, focusing on the intimate story and his revelations.

His second body of work is isolated from his injury, instead rooting in his vast interest in the systems of perception, the universe, quantum physics, neuro-authentics, an exploration driven by curiosity.

Both themes include mediums of works on canvas, sculptures created by his 3Dmodeling, and installation pieces.