Biography

Mio Tahara is Japanese and has never lived abroad; she was born in Tokyo in 1959.

My mother had to leave me in my hometown so she could attend her correspondence courses. She was the only young child surrounded by adults. She grew up without ever knowing how to turn to others for affection. She recalls gazing at Mount Fuji every day and enjoying the water in the garden pond—water so clear that she could swim alongside the rainbow trout.

The garden was planted with a variety of flora, much like the estate of Tasha Tudor. On sunny days, she would spend the entire day in the mountains, where there was a charcoal kiln. Her work reflects her childhood experiences of connecting with nature.

Since both her grandmother and her aunt—who was an art student—painted, art became a natural part of her daily life. It seems that her art teachers in elementary and junior high school recognized her talent and watched over her development. Her mother, however, did not tell her about this, fearing it might hinder the career path she was aiming for.

I aspired to pursue a career in art, yet my high school did not even offer art class. Although she had only six months to prepare for the practical exam, she succeeded in getting accepted into her university-Musashino Art University oil painting of choice straight out of high school.

I devised a plan: I would learn the fundamentals at art school, get a job, and return to painting after retirement. As I had younger brothers, I could not rely on my parents for financial support.

I majored in oil painting at Musashino Art University in Kodaira City. In Japan, it is impossible to make a living solely by painting. She followed a conventional path: finding employment, getting married, raising children, and running a private tutoring school.

Then, at the dawn of Japan’s Reiwa era, she opened her paint box once again. When I was wondering what to do next, my daughter suggested Instagram. A later, MADS Art Gallery called out to her.

Thanks to the internet, I was able to open up opportunities to exhibit my work in places ranging from Europe and the United States to Art Expo New York.

Artist Statement

Nor is it merely an object of prayer. It harbors immense power.

There is something about me that is not quite ordinary. My mother told me—for the first time, now that I am this age—about the teachers I had in elementary school. Apparently, upon seeing the work I created forty years later, they recognized me immediately.

Parents are the ones who decide everything. Due to family circumstances, I was placed in the care of others. I was a terribly quiet child. I always prioritized the well-being of those around me over my own opinions.

My current work is based on my own experiences and depicts a unique ideal. Human beings cannot achieve anything on their own. The sun and the moon provide energy ceaselessly, asking for nothing in return. Animals and plants, too, sacrifice their lives to serve as food for humans. Buddhas and gods are always by our side, extending a helping hand.

I am learning how to transform the negative into the positive.

https://www.instagram.com/m.21yume/
https://www.instagram.com/m.yume21/
Artist Spotlight - Mio Tahara https://www.contemporaryartcuratormagazine.com/home-2/mio-tahara-spotlight
aatonau https://aatonau.com/tahara-mio-weaving-life-tradition-and-nature-into-art/
M.A.D.S.アートギャラリー |アーティスト。|田原澪 https://circle-arts.com/member/tahara-mio/