An exhibition of works by painter and illustrator Mariko Hirasawa, The Talking Trees Sing Songs That Cannot Be Put into Words, will be held at arflex Tokyo in Ebisu from Thursday, October 29 to Tuesday, November 17, 2026. The exhibition is part of the "LIFE with ART project," which proposes a comfortable relationship between art and interiors.
The exhibition centers on monotypes, one-of-a-kind prints that capture scenes that come to mind. A special collaboration piece with the classic MARENCO sofa, Living in blessed Energy Flow, will also be unveiled and can be viewed at arflex Tokyo during the exhibition.
On opening day, Thursday, October 29, an opening reception open to everyone starts at 6:00 PM. Guests can enjoy catering by foodremedies along with a gallery talk by Hirasawa.
Exhibition Details
Mariko Hirasawa Exhibition "The Talking Trees Sing Songs That Cannot Be Put into Words"
- Dates: Thursday, October 29 – Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (closed Wednesdays)
- Venue: arflex Tokyo
- Address: Ebisu Prime Square 1F, 1-1-40 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Tel: 03-3486-8899
- Website: https://www.arflex.co.jp/topics/20261017_hirasawa
- Admission: Free
- Opening Reception: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (no reservation required). Catering by foodremedies and a gallery talk by Hirasawa.
curated by noie.cc
Special Interview: The Joy of Bringing Art into Everyday Life
"I think it's best not to overthink it at all. When I was young, I had a lot of preconceptions, like feeling I had to look at art in a certain way, but once I let go of them, paintings and artworks began to come into me so lightly and naturally. Even just thinking 'I love this color' or 'I'd like to spend time with this in my own home' is a good enough starting point."
— Mariko Hirasawa (from the interview)
Painting the "Songs That Cannot Be Put into Words" of Trees Encountered While Traveling
『色とりどりの声を聴く』 / 『はじまり』
"I love walking in nature, and every day I walk with my beloved dog, Pekka, and watch the trees change with the seasons. When I travel abroad, I come across trees that are different from the ones I see in daily life. Nature has no words, but it has messages that speak to us. Listening to the words of the trees brings a sense of reassurance, and the idea of turning that into a painting became the theme of this exhibition."
— Mariko Hirasawa (from the interview)
Artist's Words
Even if I cannot move from here,
leaves dance in the wind and speak to us as songs.
That song, which cannot be put into words,
reaches people and becomes a true song.People retell it and sing it onward,
and the song spreads everywhere.Mountains, rocks, and lakes, remaining where they are,
each sing their own songs
and stay connected, no matter how far.The song resonates through people's whole bodies,
shaking their cells and loosening every part of them.Being together with nature,
being a part of it,
people take this to heart once again.That all are level and alike,
they accept this as they listen to the song.Then, looking up at the expanse of the heavens,
they simply receive joy and blessing.Joy and blessing
become an endlessly widening circle, at times a vortex,
guiding people toward the light.Before that light, everyone will remember
this song without words,
and that they have known it since a long-ago day.When I traveled to the northern lands,
this song that reached me, that resonance,
made my heart tremble like a prayer
and took shape as paintings.
Supported by being a part of something great.— Mariko Hirasawa
About the Artist
Photo: Ryumon Kagioka
Mariko Hirasawa
Born in Tokyo. Hirasawa works across a wide range of fields, including advertising, package design, interior decoration, and picture books. In recent years, the artist has focused mainly on creating prints using a unique printmaking technique called 描版画, holding solo exhibitions in Japan and abroad. Publications include the collection Itsuka no Mori (いつかの森, Kyuryudo) and Mi-to-n (ミ・ト・ン, Gentosha Bunko, co-authored with Ito Ogawa), among many others.
Instagram: @mariko_h
