A selection of paintings, drawings, and ceramic sculpture from artist Shuto Okayasu’s first solo exhibition. Born in Japan and currently based in New York, Okayasu’s work reflects a mix of eastern and western sensibilities and multicultural interests. Recording both mundane and transcendent aspects of urban living, Okayasu references a variety of sources including film, hip-hop culture, Nihonga (traditional Japanese painting), woodblock prints, manga, anime, and abstract expressionism. The title, “Okku/Beyond the Light”, is inspired by a line from poet Tanikawa Shuntaro, another important influence who similarly explored the cosmic in everyday life.

“Okku” is a Buddhist term that represents a length of time too long to measure or comprehend. Today the word conveys a sense of reluctance toward doing something because it feels tedious or bothersome. The merger of tedium and sublime eternity offers a nice summation of Okayasu’s recent works. “Okku/Beyond the Light” is currently on display at Plato gallery in New York until May 11, 2025.