The exhibition Bag to the Nature – google translation at Várfok Galéria presents the latest works of franyo aatoth and Motoko Tachikawa. The title carries a dual meaning: it refers both to a desire to return to nature and to the continuous transformation of matter. At the core of the exhibition, nature appears not merely as a backdrop but as an active, formative force, a medium in which processes of change, decay, and transformation become defining elements.
franyo aatoth (1954) first arrived in Paris in 1978 with the support of Victor Vasarely, where he studied at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. His artistic practice is characterized by formal richness and a diverse use of media, which in recent years has taken on new emphasis in works created in Thailand. His paintings are not simply representations of landscapes but reflections of withdrawal and meditative attention. In his most recent works, his experimental attitude unfolds across an even wider range of surfaces: he works with found and recycled elements that, through artistic intervention, acquire new layers of meaning. In the Letters to VV series, he paints on canvases inherited from Vasarely, transforming the works into a continuation of their friendship, a form of visual correspondence.
The Japanese-born artist based in France, Motoko Tachikawa (1958) explores the delicate, layered structures of nature in her painting. During her travels in Scandinavia, the vivid colors of Finnish wild gardens became a key source of inspiration, which she translates into her work through layered pigments and dynamic brushwork. Her compositions feature plant forms and impressions of wild vegetation across canvases of varying sizes; through the accumulation of pigment and ink, organic yet coherently structured compositions emerge.
The two oeuvres are rooted in distinct cultural backgrounds, yet are united by a shared attentiveness, experimental approach, and engagement with material. Their encounter is not merely a visual parallel but a profound conceptual dialogue on the possibilities of coexisting with nature. Both artists’ works are permeated by a vibrant use of color: bold, expressive painterly gestures convey both energy and subtle sensitivity. This rich chromatic language evokes freshness, freedom, and an intense sense of presence, creating compositions that invite not only contemplation but also a sustained, lived engagement.