The Art of Saori Hasegawa: Capturing the "Lost Scenery" of Wandering Consciousness

When our gaze rests upon something, our consciousness may have already drifted far away. This disconnect between sight and thought is what artist Saori Hasegawa calls "maigo no fuukei" (lost scenery)—those landscapes that exist in the mind but cannot truly be seen with the naked eye. Through her paintings, she explores this paradox: how can the invisible movements of thought be transformed into visible imagery?

Plants and landscapes form the core of Hasegawa’s work. Her creative process mirrors the wandering of consciousness: first, she meticulously observes botanical forms, then reconstructs landscapes from photographs, and finally layers fragments of different time and spaces into a cohesive whole. In her paintings, lush flowers and vines emerge from monochromatic backgrounds, gradually overtaking urban scenes—bridges, riversides, roads—with their organic sprawl. The vibrant colors evoke the warmth of spring, while the familiar settings stir a sense of déjà vu in the viewer.

This artistic approach itself mirrors the flow of consciousness. As Hasegawa repeatedly observes plants and landscapes, her thoughts begin to traverse time and space—past memories, imagined futures— eventually arriving at a place that "cannot be named." Through her brushstrokes, she records the subtle dialogue between mind and reality: those inner landscapes that seem absent yet are always present.

The exhibition invites viewers to experience this unique state of perception. Beyond the surface of everyday life, within the interplay of color and line, we may all discover those places we have "never seen, yet are everywhere." It is both a visual journey and a gentle inquiry into the boundaries of our awareness.