Born in 1941, Kazunori Ono is an artist whose practice remains deeply rooted in the intertwined themes of "place, people, and time." From 1971 to 1980, he was active primarily in Bergamo, Italy, where he showcased his work through numerous solo exhibitions and local venues. Eschewing the traditional patronage systems common in Europe, Ono chose a path of fierce independence, eventually returning to Japan in the early 1980s to establish his base in Okayama Prefecture.
In 1991, he embarked in earnest on his "Journey of Wandering through Japan," traversing the archipelago in his two beloved Mitsubishi Pajero 4x4s. This odyssey involves visiting local communities without preconception, transcending the rigid frameworks of regional boundaries or official addresses. For Ono, this nomadic existence is not merely travel but a profound creative endeavor that has become his life’s work. Since 2008, while maintaining his studio in Osa, Niimi City, Okayama, he has continued his energetic output, drawing constant inspiration from the everyday lives and landscapes encountered on his journeys.
Ono’s creative process is grounded in the visceral perspective of "being present." For instance, by touring areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and immersing himself in the local atmosphere, he captures fleeting observations and lived experiences, translating them into physical form. His technique involves collecting found objects and ready-made artifacts from his surroundings, integrating them into his work to construct new, evocative imagery. His signature Time Collection series serves as a poignant personal archive; in these works, he seals his Italian-era creations within boxes like specimens, effectively preserving the very essence of the years he spent abroad.
As people change over the years, works also develop shifts and changes with age. The works offered at Untitled range from comparatively recent pieces of about twenty years to older works that have passed through nearly seventy years.
Small scratches, changes in the paint surface, shifts in paper or support—these are not mere deterioration but traces of the time the work has lived through.
We do not value only perfect condition. We hope you will receive each work as a single existence, together with the time it has accumulated.
Accessories
Whether a work is framed is noted on each work page. Frame condition varies by work; please contact us in advance if you would like details.
We also accept custom framing matched to the work. As each piece is made individually for the space and work, delivery takes approximately two months.
Framed works include a storage box. Depending on the work, a new box may be made after purchase, which may take several weeks.
