Kasuga Taisha, Nara  –  Memory of Japan

Kasuga Taisha, Nara – Memory of Japan is an oil painting depicting a quiet transition between architecture and nature, framed by the vivid red structure of a traditional Shinto shrine. The viewer’s gaze is guided through the open gate toward a softly lit garden, where trees and stone elements create a calm, contemplative depth. The strong contrast between the saturated vermilion tones and the natural greens emphasizes the symbolic dialogue between human construction and the surrounding landscape.

This work captures a moment of stillness and reverence, characteristic of sacred places in Japan. Light plays a central role, filtering gently through the foliage and softening the geometry of the shrine. The composition balances precision and atmosphere, allowing space for silence, memory, and slow observation. Rather than describing a specific ritual, the painting evokes a personal experience of passage, threshold, and inner pause.

Created by Virginie Martin-Blaise, this painting reflects an ongoing exploration of travel, memory, and place as emotional landscapes. Through careful attention to color harmony, spatial framing, and subtle variations of light, the artist transforms a real location into a timeless image. Kasuga Taisha, Nara – Memory of Japan invites the viewer to linger at the boundary between exterior world and inner reflection.