A solo exhibition by the Japanese painter Masashi Ozawa, known for his richly colored compositions that interweave women, plants, and musicians. His elegant and sensuous scenes—where reality and fiction playfully intertwine—bring to light the hidden sides of human relationships and subtle feelings of unease, giving voice to inner conflicts and unspoken cries.
WISH LESS gallery is delighted to announce the Japanese painter Masashi Ozawa’s solo exhibition “Alive, Somehow”. Ozawa’s scenes are composed of elegant, sensual moments where reality and fiction interplay, bringing to light the hidden undercurrents of various human relationships and subtle discomforts. A woman reclining in a pensive pose, with a man’s legs placed beside her. A female figure gazing at the viewer with a vacant stare. Whilst these images appear captivating at first glance, they also evoke a sense of unease in the viewer. It is akin to the sensation one experiences after watching a film, when a particular scene refuses to leave one’s mind, prompting repeated self-reflection. This occurs because the viewer visually interprets the oscillation between ideal and reality―or perhaps the absurdity―seeping from the canvas and uses it to reflect on their own position.
Motifs considered symbols of universal ideal beauty―such as women, plants and musicians―are intricately composed within the canvas by Ozawa, revealing in a multi-layered manner another aspect of the subjects: the vulnerability, precariousness and instability that lie hidden within.
We hope that through this exhibition, many visitors will be able to appreciate Ozawa’s keen insight and flexible sensibility, which, through his paintings, draw our attention to the inner conflicts and silent cries of our own hearts, with their multifaceted nature of strength and weakness.
[ STATEMENT ]
We are living in this era.
Violence and war persist and lies and vanity abound.
With the advancement of AI and technology,
our values and sense of purpose continue to waver,
and the future sometimes appears to be shaped more by anxiety than by hope.
Yet people, in their own places,
in their own ways,
struggle on, seeking quiet happiness.
Exposed to the realities of daily life,
they persevere nonetheless.
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©︎ Masashi Ozawa
[ PROFILE ]
Masashi Ozawa @masashiozawa
Painter. Born in 1980 in Ibaraki, Japan. Graduated from the Department of Science of Design at Musashino Art University.
His work centers on motifs such as women, flowers, plants, and musicians, which he interweaves across the canvas in rich, vibrant colors.
Ozawa has also collaborated extensively with the music industry, apparel brands and restaurant interiors.
About Exhibition
Masashi Ozawa solo exhibition “Alive, Somehow”
[Schedule]
Saturday 16th May―Sunday 7th June 2026
Thursday―Sunday 12:00―18:00
※Closed : Mon―Wed
[Venue]
WISH LESS gallery
5-12-10 Tabata Kita-ku Tokyo 114-0014
+81-3-5809-0696
info@wish-less.com
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©︎ Masashi Ozawa
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©︎ Masashi Ozawa
GALLERY INFORMATION
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WISH LESS
Tokyo, Japan / est. 2012
WISH LESS was founded in December 2012 in Tabata, Kita-ku—part of Tokyo’s northern area—by graphic designer and ceramic artist Yoko Nagai and British painter Rob Kidney. Since its opening, the gallery has presented distinctive, cross-genre curatorial projects, continually offering new perspectives where painting, photography, sculpture, video, music, and performance intersect.
As an artist-run gallery, WISH LESS creates a welcoming space enriched with diverse ideas grounded in its own unique aesthetic, aiming to be a place of exchange where anyone can freely experience and engage with art.
- URL
- http://wish-less.com
- 住所
- 5-12-10, Tabata, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 114-0014
- Tel
- +81 3 5809 0696
- 開館時間
- 12:00 — 18:00
- 休館日
- Mon・Tue・Wed
- 入館料
- 無料
- 備考
- * Opening days vary depending on exhibitions and events. Please check our social media for the latest information. * Please note that the gallery will be closed during exhibition changeovers. * Visitors accompanied by children under 12 are kindly asked to be mindful of the artworks on display.
EXHIBITED ARTWORKS
EXHIBITION
VENUE
- URL
- http://wish-less.com
- 住所
- 5-12-10, Tabata, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 114-0014
- Tel
- +81 3 5809 0696
- 開館時間
- 12:00 — 18:00
- 休館日
- Mon・Tue・Wed
- 入館料
- 無料
- 備考
- * Opening days vary depending on exhibitions and events. Please check our social media for the latest information. * Please note that the gallery will be closed during exhibition changeovers. * Visitors accompanied by children under 12 are kindly asked to be mindful of the artworks on display.
NOTES
Masashi Ozawa solo exhibition “Alive, Somehow”
[Schedule]
Saturday 16th May―Sunday 7th June 2026
Thursday―Sunday 12:00―18:00
※Closed : Mon―Wed
[Venue]
WISH LESS gallery
5-12-10 Tabata Kita-ku Tokyo 114-0014
+81-3-5809-0696
info@wish-less.com