One thing about a sunflower, is that you rarely ever find one alone. So why shouldn’t great art pieces encompassing them - spanning centuries and genres, not inhabit the same space. And what better habitat for them all to coexist, than modest saki space?

Modest in nature, not doing anything other than what the earth intended it

The helianthus (helios - sun, anthus - flower), better known as the sunflower, always grows to find the sun. A scientific fact: a sunflower moves and grows to find sunlight. If we were to focus on the association of light to hope, a sun flower is a great illustration of a modest blossoming hope - modest saki. Picture the sunflower, blossoming ever toward the light, it’s very source of life. Modest in nature, not doing anything other than what earth intended it to do and nothing more.

…vitality and also ability to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Generally, a sunflower has a plethora of different meanings, interpretations, and applications. From spiritual symbols to mythological placements, to both mental and physical health benefits. In narrowing the margin with regard to this exhibition, we would like to emphasize their vitality and also ability to help reduce stress and anxiety.

We certainly could have just made up an exhibition of all “Van Gogh’s” and called it a day. With an exhibition titled ‘significant sunflowers’ it would absolutely be fitting. With Van Gough being unanimously the most significant of all to give an impression of a sunflower, it works. Especially if we take into account the number of times he painted that impression. Don’t worry though, we didn’t include all of them… just most of them.

Full disclosure to those that don’t already assume: this curation is almost completely subjective. As is the case with most. The inclusion of Studio Ghibli stills and Inoue Takehiko illustrations are personal and community biased. Now, the entries of Van Gogh and Monet, are totally objective. If one wants to challenge that, we welcome it. But with all due respect, you may be met with a response juxtapose to modesty.

…inclusion, exposure, representation, and the connectivity…

It’s all about inclusion, exposure, representation, connectivity and collecting of all of our favorite artists and pieces in the same place. And of course the focus of this exhibition: the sunflower. It’s not to be overlooked that all these artists at one point chose a sunflower as their subject. Whether it was an expression or impression of a moment of happiness, hope or perhaps a longing for them. The sun has long been a symbol equated with happy. Sunflowers always grow to find the sun. Will they guide you there? Will you let them? We hope so.