VisualArtist:Takehiko Murata

"The Three Sacred Treasures"

The Three Sacred Treasures

Prologue

The Jomon Period

An ambiguous era when neither the shape of the Japanese archipelago nor the flow of time had yet been established

In this world, two distinct dimensions coexisted

One was the physical, real world in which we live

The other was a spiritual world ruled by sound and sorcery

Each was governed by its own kingdom

As time passed, they became separated and drifted into different dimensions, but this is a tale of the era when they once coexisted in the same dimension

 

The Kingdom of Elam, a nation of sound magic

It was ruled by a female monarch who wielded powerful sorcery

In her later years, the queen divided the kingdom and had her three sons succeed her, but

However, due to constant strife, they incurred the wrath of the gods, and the kingdom fell into ruin

In an attempt to appease the gods’ wrath, the queen persuaded her sons

and ordered each to take possession of a talisman possessing equal power to bring the kingdom under control.

This is the origin of the three sacred treasures:

・The Mirror ・The Sword ・The Jewel (The Ball)

The Mirror

A magical artifact sent to ERAHIM, the eldest son of the Kingdom of Elam

It is said toilluminate the human heart through the image reflected in the mirror, using sounds at frequencies that reach directly into the human brain,thereby revealing the truth

It conveys the king’s will and serves to represent the king’s authority and sanctity

Engraved on its surface are patterns formed by the crystallization of material vibrations,

and it is saidthat by resonating with the vibrations of a guitar, a multidimensional door opens, allowing for dialogue with the divine

The Sword

A cursed artifact sent to SEMU, the second son of the Kingdom of Elam

Possessing powerful "sound energy" (Otochikara), The Sword symbolizes wisdom, courage, strength, and justice,

and is said to grant the strength to overcome adversity.

It gives people the courage to live and teaches them to live with a positive outlook

Patterns of the fire element are engraved on its body, and as a symbol of power, it has become an object of faiththat helps people live

The Jewel (Ball)

A cursed object sent to IMUIE (Imu), the third son of the Kingdom of Elam

The sound of The Jewel is said to smooth interpersonal relationships and promote peace and harmony

It is said to bring beauty and good fortune, and is also considered a symbol of joy

Its body is said to have been created from a rare mineral and bears the patterns of the earth

All three were created to bring peace to the people and are objects of worship

These three sacred guitars serve to convey the will of the gods while also representing the authority and sanctity of the royal family

They are symbols of the throne, proof of the king’s legitimacy, and a symbol of the king’s very existence

"Walls"

"Walls" always appear in the landscape of human life

They stand quietly in the way; sometimes invisible and silent, they divide the inside from the outside anddelineate the boundary between the possible and the impossible

These “walls” are symbols of rejection, yet they are also points of passage and screens of memory

On the walls of overlooked back alleys, the city’s breath and the passage of time are layered upon one another

Peeling, repainted, scuffed, and exposed to wind and rain, countless traces have accumulated

By layeringmaterials with different temporal historiesnot paint,but architectural coatings, industrial materials, and digital prints—invisible layers emerge on the canvas. There, past and present, chance and intention, light and shadow intertwine,revealing the texture of a city that repeatedly undergoes weathering and renewal

“The Wall” is not an end, but a beginning

To cross it, to touch it, to keep gazing at it

Might there not be a landscape born from this repetition?

Visual Artist:
Takehiko Murata

Profile:

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1974. Moved to Europe at 10 months old due to his father’s work

(Belgium, Düsseldorf, Germany, and Paris, France)

Began studying violin (Suzuki Method) in Germany at age 3 and devoted himself to intensive lessons in various countries for 8 years

1998 Graduated from the Graphic Design Department, Tama Art University

2006 Joined UN Co., Ltd. (Digital Creator)

2013 Joined amana Inc.

2021 Promoted to Executive Retoucher/Illustrator

2021 NY ADC Award (Photography Division)

2021 Participated in the Leap Exhibition (Group Exhibition)

2022 Participated in the Flat Labo Border Exhibition (group exhibition)

2023 Passed the Tokyo American Club Gallery screening (Scheduled to hold a solo exhibition at the same gallery in 2025)

2024: Presented art visuals, including wall art and the Shibuya Hachiko billboard, at Belluna Dome (Seibu Stadium)

March 2025: Held a solo exhibition at the Tokyo American Club. Currently active as a Visual Artist at amana

Solo exhibition at the Tokyo American Club (March 2025)

Production Gallery

Special Thanks to:

Uzi

Rica

Presented by:

TCGAKKI

Looking Back on the Works of Takehiko Murata

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