MASARU OZAKI
Masaru Ozaki is a contemporary artist whose practice centers on an ontological and epistemological inquiry into the question: What is real? His work critically visualizes the conditions under which reality is constructed, intervening through visual expression in the institutional frameworks that shape perception and interpretation. By unsettling assumptions that are unconsciously internalized—such as systems, symbols, and the reliability of operability—he creates opportunities to reexamine how we understand what is real.
Ozaki assembles heterogeneous elements—light, form, material, phenomenon, and language—into layered compositions that traverse the visual, kinetic, and linguistic dimensions. These structures are designed to induce slippages, delays, and discontinuities within the process of recognition, thereby destabilizing the viewer’s cognitive perception. Notably, his work focuses on how bodily and symbolic acts such as “seeing,” “touching,” and “understanding” come into being—or fail to—before being absorbed into institutional systems of meaning.
His approach engages with the liminal zones of dualistic structures—nature and artificiality, motion and stillness, actuality and fiction, or reality and its simulation—seeking to reveal how the “real” is staged and constructed. Through simulacral devices, perceptual dissonance, and the silence of language, Ozaki’s work emerges as a poetic and critical practice that introduces instability into the cognitive frameworks through which we apprehend reality.
His artistic practice can thus be situated as a critical intervention into the institutional structures of perception and the processes by which meaning is formed. It constitutes a structurally and conceptually rigorous inquiry into the very conditions through which reality is understood via visual expression.
Major exhibitions include "chair" at rooms18 (Yoyogi National Stadium, Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium), "Motion Design Magic Solo Exhibition" at Shibuya PARCO, "KAZENOSHIZUKU" at the entrance of the Japan Pavilion at the Shanghai International Expo, "MASARU OZAKI in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels" at Van Cleef & Arpels' Ginza flagship store, "JUST AROUND THE CORNER" at Art Miami, and "MASARU OZAKI in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels" (exhibited in Art Miami). collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels" at Van Cleef & Arpels Ginza, "JUST AROUND THE CORNER", a light and video sculpture at Art Miami, (Exhibited in TEFAF Maastricht), CRYSTAL GATE (Epson Square Marunouchi entrance), "MASARUOZAKI SOLO EXHIBITION" at art miami CONTEXT (Miami, USA), "PUSH" at PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum, Tallinn, Estonia, "PUSH START BUTTON P2" at PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum, Tallinn, Estonia. etc.
MASARU OZAKI は、「リアルとは何か？」という存在論的かつ認識論的な問いを創作の中心に据えた現代アーティストである。彼の作品は、現実がどのように構築されているかという条件を視覚表現を通じて批評的に可視化し、私たちの知覚や解釈を支える制度的な枠組みに介入する。日常的に内面化されている制度や記号、操作可能性への信頼といった前提を揺るがすことで、現実の理解そのものを問い直す契機を生み出している。
OZAKI の作品は、光、形状、物質、現象、言語といった異種の要素を重層的に編成し、視覚、運動、言語の諸レベルを横断する構造を持つ。それらは、認識の過程において生じるズレや遅延、断絶を意図的に誘発し、鑑賞者の認知に揺さぶりをかける。とりわけ、「見る」「触れる」「理解する」といった身体的かつ象徴的な行為が、制度的な意味体系に組み込まれる以前の段階で、いかに生成され、あるいは破綻しうるかに注目している。
彼のアプローチは、自然と人工、動きと静止、実在と虚構、あるいは現実とそのシミュレーションといった二項対立的な構造の境界領域に介入し、「リアル」がいかに演出され、構築されているかを可視化する。シミュラークル的な装置、知覚の錯綜、言語の沈黙といった現象を通じて、彼の表現は、現実を理解するための認知的枠組みに揺らぎを生じさせる詩的かつ批評的な実践として展開されている。
こうした OZAKI の実践は、知覚の制度的構造と意味の構築過程に対する批評的介入として位置づけられる。それは、視覚表現を通して現実理解の条件そのものを問い直す、構造的かつ思考的な探究である。
主な作品展示に「chair」rooms18（国立代々木競技場東京体育館）、「Motion Design Magic Solo Exhibition」渋谷PARCO、「カゼノシズク」上海国際博覧会日本館エントランス常設、「MASARU OZAKI in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels」（ヴァンクリーフ＆アーペル銀座本店）、 光と映像の彫刻作品「JUST AROUND THE CORNER」（Art Miami）、（Exhibited in TEFAF Maastricht）、CRYSTAL GATE（エプソンスクエア丸の内エントランス）、「MASARUOZAKI SOLO EXHIBITION」art miami CONTEXT（米国 マイアミ) 、エストニア タリンの現代美術館 PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum に「PUSH START BUTTON P2」収蔵など。Major works produced and exhibited
1972
Born in Tokyo
Born in Tokyo
2006
Sónar (Spain)
HD Forum TEA (Spain 2006, 2007)
Sónar (Spain)
HD Forum TEA (Spain 2006, 2007)
2007
DIESEL GINZA FLAGSHIP STORE OPENING RECEPTION "BLACK CUBE" Sculptural Design + 3D Mapping
Motion graphic production for ENDLICHERI☆ENDLICHERI TV
JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN Tokyo Collection (Japan's first large-scale Forced perspective 3D projection mapping)
VISUAL NATION (Indonesia)
DIESEL GINZA FLAGSHIP STORE OPENING RECEPTION "BLACK CUBE" Sculptural Design + 3D Mapping
Motion graphic production for ENDLICHERI☆ENDLICHERI TV
JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN Tokyo Collection (Japan's first large-scale Forced perspective 3D projection mapping)
VISUAL NATION (Indonesia)
2008
Neil Barrett × Zaha Hadid BRUTUS ART collaboration Projection
Neil Barrett × Zaha Hadid BRUTUS ART collaboration Projection
2009
"chair" light sculpture (invited artist for rooms, Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium)
Projection mapping for Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium
Artist invited to Shibuya PARCO 40th Anniversary X'masTree "25 CUBETREE" 3D + video
Solo exhibition "MOTION+DESIGN+MAGIC" at Parco Factory, Tokyo
Roland Digital Piano New Style Concert: Akira Senju with Takako Takahashi, Takashi Matsunaga, Masaru Ozaki (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)
Exhibited at SURVIVALSHOW, Shin-Marunouchi Building, Tokyo
MOTION+DESIGN+MAGIC SECRET FILE 01-06 Workshop (Apple Japan Headquarters Seminar Room)
Natural Color Television
The Other Side of Marbles
"chair" light sculpture (invited artist for rooms, Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium)
Projection mapping for Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium
Artist invited to Shibuya PARCO 40th Anniversary X'masTree "25 CUBETREE" 3D + video
Solo exhibition "MOTION+DESIGN+MAGIC" at Parco Factory, Tokyo
Roland Digital Piano New Style Concert: Akira Senju with Takako Takahashi, Takashi Matsunaga, Masaru Ozaki (Kioi Hall, Tokyo)
Exhibited at SURVIVALSHOW, Shin-Marunouchi Building, Tokyo
MOTION+DESIGN+MAGIC SECRET FILE 01-06 Workshop (Apple Japan Headquarters Seminar Room)
Natural Color Television
The Other Side of Marbles
2010
Invited artist for the Japan Pavilion at the Shanghai International Expo "Kazenoshizuku" (22500x2500x3000mm)Monument
ORIGAMIWALL", "ORIGAMIGATE", "Sousui", "Fashion Zone" 4 zones in the pavilion 3D + video
Solo exhibition "MOTION+DESIGN+MAGIC" at Fukuoka PARCO
Fukuoka Tenjin Kappa no Izumi Projection
Special lecturer at Digital Hollywood University
Bodaiju Festa (Ramada Hotel Osaka)
NIKON Cool Projection Midnight Tower
Invited artist for the Japan Pavilion at the Shanghai International Expo "Kazenoshizuku" (22500x2500x3000mm)Monument
ORIGAMIWALL", "ORIGAMIGATE", "Sousui", "Fashion Zone" 4 zones in the pavilion 3D + video
Solo exhibition "MOTION+DESIGN+MAGIC" at Fukuoka PARCO
Fukuoka Tenjin Kappa no Izumi Projection
Special lecturer at Digital Hollywood University
Bodaiju Festa (Ramada Hotel Osaka)
NIKON Cool Projection Midnight Tower
2011
Light Tree Project "Season's Greetings" Projection Mapping
Light Tree Project "Season's Greetings" Projection Mapping
2012
Light Tree Project "RAKUGAKI" (NHK)
Light Tree Project "RAKUGAKI" (NHK)
2013
San Francisco City Hall JCB World Convention "GLOW" 3D + Projection Mapping
"KODOU" "ROOF TOP" Exhibits. Glass Case + Projection Mapping
Disney on Classic Glass Case + Projection Mapping
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO PROJECTION MAPPING published by Genkosha (No.1 best seller in video category)
San Francisco City Hall JCB World Convention "GLOW" 3D + Projection Mapping
"KODOU" "ROOF TOP" Exhibits. Glass Case + Projection Mapping
Disney on Classic Glass Case + Projection Mapping
BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO PROJECTION MAPPING published by Genkosha (No.1 best seller in video category)
2014
Makuhari Messe Live & Event Industry Exhibition optiglow announced "STRIPE WOOD" and "2.42
Soul NATION Saint Cloth Myth EX Leo Aeolia (Holy Cloth) Projection Mapping
Traveling Hikari (JCB Head Office Building 1st Floor Show Window)
Selected as one of the 50 light artists in the world who manipulate light by Francesco Mura "LIGHTWORKS"
Special Lecturer, Department of Information Design, Tama Art University
Makuhari Messe Live & Event Industry Exhibition optiglow announced "STRIPE WOOD" and "2.42
Soul NATION Saint Cloth Myth EX Leo Aeolia (Holy Cloth) Projection Mapping
Traveling Hikari (JCB Head Office Building 1st Floor Show Window)
Selected as one of the 50 light artists in the world who manipulate light by Francesco Mura "LIGHTWORKS"
Special Lecturer, Department of Information Design, Tama Art University
2015
Stripe Wood (Live & Event Industry Exhibition)
Stripe Wood (Live & Event Industry Exhibition)
2016
Light Tree Project 3 Tsubomi's photo essay (website & digital publication)
Ball (Watercolor of light)
Light Tree Project 3 Tsubomi's photo essay (website & digital publication)
Ball (Watercolor of light)
2017
Light Tree Project 3 Tsubomi
MASARU OZAKI in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels (Van Cleef & Arpels Ginza)
Light Tree Project 3 Tsubomi
MASARU OZAKI in collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels (Van Cleef & Arpels Ginza)
2018
JUST AROUND THE CORNER will be presented at Art Miami
JUST AROUND THE CORNER will be presented at Art Miami
2019
JUST AROUND THE CORNER Exhibited in TEFAF Maastricht
GLASS CUBE (Entrance of Epson Square Marunouchi)
JUST AROUND THE CORNER Exhibited in TEFAF Maastricht
GLASS CUBE (Entrance of Epson Square Marunouchi)
2020
MASARUOZAKI EXHIBITION "The Corner" (invited artist for rooms40 Yoyogi National Stadium Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium)
MASARUOZAKI EXHIBITION "The Corner" (invited artist for rooms40 Yoyogi National Stadium Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium)
2021
Group Exhibition "STILLNESS AND MOTION" (KIYOSHI ART SPACE)
"Feel" Ethical Art Exhibition (invited artist for rooms JOURNEY 01 Hankyu Umeda Main Store Hankyu Hall)
Group Exhibition "Seven Eyes - In the near future"(Bunkamura Gallery)
Group Exhibition "STILLNESS AND MOTION" (KIYOSHI ART SPACE)
"Feel" Ethical Art Exhibition (invited artist for rooms JOURNEY 01 Hankyu Umeda Main Store Hankyu Hall)
Group Exhibition "Seven Eyes - In the near future"(Bunkamura Gallery)
2022
ONCE MORE ED4-6 and NO MORE 3:00 were exhibited at Art Fair Tokyo 2022
GALLERY SCENA Pre-Opening Exhibition
Solo exhibition at art miami CONTEXT
ONCE MORE ED4-6 and NO MORE 3:00 were exhibited at Art Fair Tokyo 2022
GALLERY SCENA Pre-Opening Exhibition
Solo exhibition at art miami CONTEXT
2023
Art Central Hong Kong
Van Cleef & Arpels "Legend of Diamonds" Art Installation (Meiji Kinenkan)
Solo exhibition “LOOP” (GALLERY SCENA)
Art Central Hong Kong
Van Cleef & Arpels "Legend of Diamonds" Art Installation (Meiji Kinenkan)
Solo exhibition “LOOP” (GALLERY SCENA)
2024
Art Fair Tokyo 2024
Solo exhibition "Light and Fraction.
PUSH START BUTTON P2" collection of PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum, (Tallinn, Estonia)
Art Fair Tokyo 2024
Solo exhibition "Light and Fraction.
PUSH START BUTTON P2" collection of PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum, (Tallinn, Estonia)
2025
Solo exhibition "Contained Contradiction and Its Fluctuation" (GALLERY 4751)
Solo exhibition "Contained Contradiction and Its Fluctuation" (GALLERY 4751)