The "ARKO (Artist in Residence Kurashiki, Ohara)" program, conducted by the Ohara Art Foundation, is a residency program where selected artists stay in Kurashiki and create and exhibit their works over a maximum of three months.
ARKO has restarted as one of the "Artist Cooperative Exchange Projects" from the fiscal year 2025. The first participating artist is Japanese painter Kojima Torajiro.
From early April for three months, Kojima worked on-site at the atelier associated with Kojima Torajiro, located within the grounds of "Muison-so".
Then, from July 15, 2026, Kojima's exhibition, "ARKO2025-2026 Kojima Torajiro," began in Room 7 of the Ohara Museum of Art.
The exhibition features a large work nearly 5 meters wide and five smaller pieces. Here, we introduce the exhibition setup and a Q&A session held with Kojima.
The work "Attack on No. 24" created during a three-month residency
The centerpiece of the exhibition is the large work "Attack on No. 24", completed over three months. It is the largest piece Kojima has created to date, measuring approximately 5 meters wide.
The theme is "The boundary between wild animals, threats, and humans." In the center of the large work, a shark is entangled in a net. This is inspired by human bones believed to be the world's oldest shark victim, excavated from the Tsukumo Shell Mound in Kasaoka City.
These human bones are referred to as "No. 24" because they were the 24th discovered at the shell mound. The title of the work, "Attack on No. 24," was named after this designation.
The five pieces displayed on either side of the main work are creations that Kojima painted based on what she saw during her stay and what she encountered while conceptualizing "Attack on No. 24."
Previously, we interviewed her about the background of wanting to paint sharks and her creative process at Muison-so.
▼ For more details, please see the article below.
"I painted each with meaning" - Kojima Torajiro
On the opening day, we spoke with Kojima about her feelings in front of the completed large work, her composition and color choices, and the creative strategies she employed within the limited time.
What do you think of the exhibition?
Kojima (no honorifics)
When I was working in the atelier, I painted while lying on the floor.
Seeing it hung on the wall like this allows me to view the painting from a different perspective, and I felt that the white walls of the exhibition room made the work stand out even more interestingly.
Did you face any difficulties during the creation process?
Kojima
This was the largest size I have ever worked with. Therefore, I struggled to determine the size and composition of the figures at the beginning.
When I sketched it at the initially intended size, it ended up being larger than that. I had to peel it off and redraw it at a smaller size several times during the composition stage.
Please tell us about your focus on color choices.
Kojima
The shark, net, and figures drawn in the center are depicted in contrasting colors of red and green (complementary colors).
To ensure they didn't stand out too much, I gradually decided on the surrounding colors, which blended well with the overall piece, and I think that was a good choice.
It seems like there is a different world expanding beyond the shoji on the right side.
Kojima
The shoji is torn, and beyond it, a rainbow-like landscape can be seen. I aimed to express a different, slightly futuristic world that expands in another dimension, distinct from the space on the left.
The yellow chain gives the impression that the two worlds are connected.
The atelier does not have electricity, so the time available for painting is limited from morning until sunset. What strategies did you employ?
Kojima
I think I was able to concentrate on my work by deciding "I will paint this today" within a set timeframe. If I tried to paint without limits, I might have become sluggish, so working within constraints was an interesting experience.
I felt a strong desire to paint each piece with care.
Please tell us about your future creative activities.
Kojima
Being able to paint the largest piece I have ever created in a constrained environment has given me confidence.
I am very much looking forward to returning to Tokyo with this feeling and creating new paintings.
Please give a message to those who come to see the exhibition.
Kojima
This work is filled with many motifs. Each motif has been painted with its own meaning.
I would be happy if you could freely look at it and interpret it, wondering, "What does this mean?" and "What connection is there between this motif and that motif?"
The exhibition runs until September 27 (Sunday)
The approximately 5-meter-wide work features various motifs.
Inside the shark's mouth, colorful nets, a person eating an ice pop, a yellow chain, a cave, flames, flowers, and a starry sky, among others. The more you look, the more intriguing motifs emerge, stimulating the imagination.
Additionally, on September 6 (Sunday), there will be an artist talk by Kojima Torajiro. Listening to her words after viewing the work may lead to different discoveries.
The exhibition runs until September 27 (Sunday). For details, please check the Ohara Museum of Art website.
Articles about the Ohara Museum of Art
Data on ARKO2025-2026 Mayuko Kose
| Name | ARKO2025-2026 Mayuko Kose |
|---|---|
| Date | From July 15, 2026 (Wed) to September 27, 2026 (Sun) 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:30 PM) 【Closed Days】 July 27 (Mon), September 7 (Mon), September 14 (Mon) |
| Location | 1-1-15 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | General 2,000 yen High school, middle school, and elementary school students (under 18 years old) 500 yen |
| Homepage | ARKO2025-2026 Mayuko Kose |
