Masa IIDA (Japan)

Masa Iida is an abstract painter from Yokohama, Japan, living and working in London.  

In 1996 he moved to London to pursue his music career as a singer/songwriter however in 2015 he started painting as to add more dimension of his creativity. His background in music encourages him to see truly more of spiritual side of painting as a consequence.

Masa's work is a visual interpretation of impermanence; a collection of ever-changing moments he is experiencing.

Brush marks are the dominant form inspired by Japanese abstract calligraphy and abstract expressionism.

He is strongly influenced by the Buddhist saying, "Fine snow falling flake by flake. Each flake falls in its own proper place. Everything could and should rest in its own proper place."

For him "a fine snow flake" is a fine brushstroke; "a proper place" is the right place on the paper where a brushstroke was destined to be.

This is the reason why he doesn't follow erasing and adding paint formula. Once he creates a brush mark, he starts from there. There is no erasing the brush mark. Because a brush mark is a reproduction of each moment that he is in. It is precious like any other moment in life.

Another characteristic of his creation is that he collaborates with what nature because until the watercolour paint gets totally dry, he doesn't know what he created. He has to wait until paint gets dry and then see what he created. In a way he is force to finish creating before the painting are created. And this is why he enjoys creating.  He can't have full control over his paintings but surrender to nature to collaborate with what nature offers.