When I decorated my home with art, I felt like I was enjoying a walk in the forest.
Originally a collector, Kenichi Kuroki collected clothes and other items, but it was in 2011 that he discovered his love for art. When he happened to visit Naoshima, Kagawa Prefecture, at a time when everyone was in mourning following the Great East Japan Earthquake, he felt a sudden sense of peace as he stood before Yayoi Kusama's large work, Pumpkin.
"I knew about Yayoi Kusama, but this was the first time I wanted to own one. I was fortunate enough to purchase one at an auction, and when I displayed her work in my home, I felt like I was taking a walk in the forest, which made me feel great. That's when my collecting habit was ignited," says Kuroki.
Aware of his collecting habit, he sets strict rules for purchasing artworks. For example, he must ensure that the artwork contains keywords such as "history that must not be forgotten" or "revealing suffering or sexual inclinations." He also actively purchases works the size of a 10x15cm postcard. He writes down his criteria in a memo, but the number of artworks he collects only continues to grow. Recently, he has been regularly hosting the Takaido Art Festival near his home, and continues to work to publicize his collection.
Yayoi Kusama's "Memories"
