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June 2026: The Colors Exhibition
Hikaru Ando
Event Dates: June 1, 2026 – June 25, 2026
Hikaru Ando
~Profile~
Year of Birth: 1986
Hometown/Current Residence: Fukushima City
Education: 2008, Graduated from the Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Ishinomaki Senshu University
Artist Statement
I was born in Fukushima City.
I grew up in an environment rich in nature, surrounded by mountains despite being in an urban area. Through daily experiences of interacting with nature, I became unconsciously captivated by its sculptural beauty. That sensibility forms the foundation of my artistic practice.
In my creative process, I continue to meticulously draw detailed parts without fixing on a final image, thereby diluting my own intentions and meanings.
In modern society, many actions are evaluated based on criteria such as “results,” “efficiency,” “purpose,” and “meaning.” However, the repetition of meaningless actions is also an attempt to distance oneself from the “domination of meaning” and to reexamine the very values of a results-oriented society.
“Drawing the meaningless” is not an act of negation, but rather an act of giving a place to things that have not yet been named.
Outside of a society driven by results and meaning, I pursue forms of expression that simply affirm the act of “being.”
Hikaru Ando's Commitment
In today’s society, where results and meaning tend to be prioritized, I quietly challenge those values by deliberately continuing to engage in actions without a specific purpose.
The shapes and lines that appear on the canvas do not convey any specific meaning; instead, they leave it up to the viewer to decide not “what this is,” but “how it makes them feel.”
Through this process, I explore the possibility that the rhythm and fluctuations found within what may seem meaningless can emerge as beauty.
In my creative process, I strive to let go of my own thoughts and intentions as much as possible,
prioritizing the ability to continue creating with a clear, uncluttered mind.
I aim to transcend my own senses and limitations to draw out a beauty that cannot be expressed by my intentions alone.
Exhibited Works
Untitled 2022060901
Size: 215×215mm
¥40,700 (tax included)
Dimensions: 270 mm (H) × 270 mm (W) × 18 mm (D) | Technique: Pen drawing | Materials: Ballpoint pen, fountain pen, pigment ink | Support: Kent paper | Year: 2025
Key Features
I use a fountain pen and pigment ink to lightly sketch a grid, then fill in each square one by one with a ballpoint pen. I first select the color of the ballpoint pen to use,
and color the grid in a way that creates unevenness to avoid a completely random appearance. The resulting forms create a captivating composition featuring a fractal structure that feels somewhat organic and resonates with the generative principles of the natural world.
Untitled 2023101601
Size: 150×150mm
¥27,500 (tax included)
Dimensions: 215 mm (H) × 215 mm (W) × 25 mm (D) | Technique: Pen drawing
Materials: Ballpoint pen, fountain pen, pigment ink | Support: Kent paper | Year: 2024
Key Features
I lightly sketch a grid with a fountain pen and pigment ink, then fill in each square one by one with a ballpoint pen. I select the initial ballpoint pen color and color the squares to create gradients and unevenness, ensuring the result is not entirely random. The work possesses a moderate complexity where order and fluctuation coexist, converging into the fractal structures found in nature—structures said to provide a sense of comfort to people. In today’s society, where we are constantly pressured to produce results, how “meaningless” can people remain in an act such as stacking stones without purpose? We question how we can accept and find value in that “meaninglessness,” while simultaneously presenting an unintended beauty.
Untitled 2021011101
Size: 150×100mm
¥19,800 (tax included)
Dimensions: 236 mm (H) × 174 mm (W) × 17 mm (D) | Medium: Pen drawing
Materials: Ballpoint pen | Support: Kent paper | Year: 2021
Key Features
I drew square dots with a ballpoint pen and arranged them in a radial pattern. This piece represents an attempt to move away from the conventional method of “filling in line drawings” and instead draw the grid (dots) directly to enhance color vibrancy. The white lines represent the boundaries of human perception. I hope this work helps viewers see things from a perspective different from the scenery they usually see.
Untitled 2021011701
Size: 150×100mm
¥19,800 (tax included)
Dimensions: 236 mm (H) × 174 mm (W) × 17 mm (D) | Medium: Pen drawing
Materials: Ballpoint pen | Support: Kent paper | Year: 2021
Key Features
I drew square dots with a ballpoint pen and arranged them in a radial pattern. This piece represents an attempt to move away from the conventional method of “filling in line drawings” and instead draw the grid (dots) directly to enhance color vibrancy. The white lines represent the boundaries of human perception. I hope this work helps viewers see things from a perspective different from the scenery they usually see.
Untitled 2021040501
Size: 420×297mm
¥93,500 (tax included)
Dimensions: 520 mm (H) × 413 mm (W) × 25 mm (D) | Medium: Pen drawing
Materials: Ballpoint pen, fountain pen, pigment ink | Support: Kent paper | Year: 2021
Highlights
I lightly sketched a grid using a fountain pen and pigment ink, then used every ballpoint pen I owned to randomly color in each square one by one. The areas with uneven tones of similar colors are where my hand moved. By setting aside my ego and creating with a clear mind, I aim not only to depict scenes beyond human perception but also to produce works that unintentionally reveal beauty within them; as a result, the final image has become an unintended abstract composition.。
Exhibition Title
Colorful Exhibition
Date
June 1–25, 2026
Time
June 1–25, 2026
Location
Gallery An Nihonbashi
12-4 Nihonbashi Odenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0011 Refolia 5F
Gallery Iori
[Access]
4-minute walk from Higashi-Nihonbashi Station, Exit A2
5-minute walk from Kodemachō Station, Exit 1