(Photo:Vancouver Art Gallery, Vanartgallery.bc.ca)

Are you just like me — someone who loves getting lost in art galleries and could spend a whole day exploring artworks, completely losing track of time?

If so, I have some good news for you. Starting from May 25, there are two exciting exhibitions opening at the Vancouver Art Gallery, running all the way until November 9.

This particular exhibition is the one I’m most looking forward to among the great selection of the upcoming exhibitions. Otani Workshop: Monsters in My Head is the first solo presentation of Otani Workshop in North America. Otani Workshop is a sculptor who has become one of the leading figures in contemporary Japanese ceramics, known for his playful yet deeply emotional work.

According to the exhibition introduction, the show will feature new paintings inspired by Otani’s personal memories, along with hand-built figurative and abstract ceramic sculptures in varying sizes. It promises to be a compelling and intimate introduction to his unique world.

I had the fortune seeing Otani Workshops’ previous exhibition in Hong Kong back in 2023, my first impression about these “little monsters” were memorizable, every of each monster was unique and carried expression and metaphor. I am looking forward to see the upcoming works that were created in Burnaby which would definitely bring something special. 

(Photo: Deer Lake Artist Residency, www.burnaby.ca)

What makes it even more special is that Otani spent a month last year at the Deer Lake Artist Residency in Burnaby. The Deer Lake residency gives artists from all over the world a quiet, natural space to focus, create, and explore new ideas. Set in beautiful Deer Lake Park, it’s surrounded by trails, wildlife, and cultural spaces like the Burnaby Art Gallery and Shadbolt Centre for the Arts — the perfect setup for inspiration.

During his time at Deer Lake, Otani Workshop created some of the works now featured in this show. The exhibition includes an immersive installation built from natural materials foraged from local parks and forests. It’s a real connection between art, memory, and the landscapes of Burnaby — and you can feel that energy when you step into the space.

If you’re planning a visit, be sure to take a close look at the Deer Lake-inspired pieces inside the exhibition.

It’s not just an art show — it’s a glimpse into an artist’s journey across two very different worlds.

Otani Workshop: Monsters in My Head, please visit:
https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/otani-workshop-monsters-in-my-head

Artist Residency Application opens yearly, please visit:

https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/activities-and-registration/arts-and-heritage/deer-lake-artist-residency