"I feel that all the works I have created so far connect to the theme of OTOGI. Inside each being, there is a small world and a story.

When I observe the forms and movements of living things, and the rhythms and connections hidden within, I sense layers overlapping like patterns, shaping the Earth itself. Though often unseen, I gently capture these 'otogi'-like moments – delicate landscapes that quietly exist all around us."

Yae Takahashi is a Wellington-based artist originally from Japan. Her work expresses the hidden connections and harmony of life through simplified forms and patterned designs of animals, plants, and natural elements. Influenced by the traditional colours and motifs of both Japan and Aotearoa New Zealand, she creates symbolic imagery that reflects nature’s quiet stories.

The Art of OTOGI invites viewers into these layered worlds, offering a moment to pause and step into the gentle, unseen narratives within nature.

CONTACT

Website: www.yaetakahashi.com

Email: info@yaetakahashi.com

Instagram: @yae.works

Images

Yae Takahashi, Prayer, acrylic on canvas, 457mm x 610mm

Yae Takahashi, Celebration, acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, 406mm x 508mm"

Yae Takahashi, One Winter Day, Casein Tempera and Acrylic on Wood Panel, 400mm x 500mm