わたしが住宅雑誌Replanを創刊したての頃、夫婦で細々と営んでいたところに助っ人として勤務していただいていた、画家のたかたのりこさん。その後、アルビレオ工房という制作工房を作られて独立されていった。
数奇な出会いがあったのですが、久しぶりの消息で紹介するような個展を開かれているということで、夫婦で再会を楽しみに小樽に行って参りました。勤務していただいていたのに、わたし自身は事業立ち上げに没頭していて、彼女のことについてはまったく知らないことばかり（笑）。父君が油彩を中心としたちょっと抽象画風の画家だったということも初めて知った次第。なので、みなさんにご紹介するには、知識がなさ過ぎるのですがお知らせ致します。
画像として案内チラシを受け取ったのでそれをそのまま掲載します。
実はわたしたち夫婦もたかたさんに絵をお願いして、娘の絵を２枚描いていただいています。その絵はわたしの寝室でいつもわたしを眠りに誘ってくれております。たかたさんのタッチでやわらかく表現された「こども」は、まことに深く沈殿してくる。あわいタッチなのですが、その表情の受け止め方に、いかにも母性が深く感じられるのです。
人生で男は１枚、ピエロの絵を持っておけ、みたいな人生訓めいたものがあって、わたしは青春期にヨーロッパに行ったときにパリの街角で、売れない絵描きさんの描いていた絵を購入してきた。油彩画なので旅行鞄に詰め込むことが心配だったところ、国際郵便で送るよ、という申し出があった。いま、考えて見ると、英語もあんまり話さないフランス人が、どうやって東洋の果ての日本人少年からその代金と送料を受け取って、絵を送ってくれたものか、ちょっと不思議なのですが、とにかく、帰国後ややしてから本当に郵送されてきた絵に感動していた。
以来、どこに移転しても必ずこのピエロの絵はわたしといっしょだったので、少年時の人生訓は生きてくれたのだと思う。
自分自身も絵には数寄心があるのですが、きっと絵と人間の出会いって、そのような「運命」めいたものなのではないかと思っています。自分の身近にあってくれればそれは僥倖であり、随伴できないのであればそれも「定め」なのでしょう。
そういうなかでたかたさんの絵は、ながく随伴させていただいた。そのタッチに深く癒されている自分がおります。個展の紹介のつもりが自分と絵との出会いになってしまいましたが（笑）、7/28まで開催されていますので、ぜひ、参観をオススメ致します。
English version⬇
Noriko Takata Exhibition at Otaru Museum of Art
Painting and life. The clown painting I bought from a street artist in Paris has accompanied me throughout my life. The picture of my daughter that Ms. Takata painted for me will stay with me until my grave, I think (laughs).
Noriko Takata, a painter, worked as a helper for me when I first started publishing Replan, a housing magazine, which was run by a couple. Later, she established her own production studio, Albireo Kobo, and became independent.
We had a few strange encounters with her, and when we heard that she was holding a solo exhibition, which we will introduce in our long-ago disappearance, we went to Otaru to enjoy the reunion with her and her husband. Although she had been working for us, I myself was immersed in setting up my own business and knew nothing about her at all (laugh). (Laughs.) I also learned for the first time that her father was an oil painter with a slightly abstract style. So, although I don't have enough knowledge to introduce her to you, I would like to let you know.
I received a flyer as a picture, so I am posting it as it is.
In fact, my husband and I have also asked Mr. Takata to paint two pictures of our daughter. They are always in my bedroom, lulling me to sleep. The "children" softly expressed by Mr. Katata's touch is really deeply sedimented. Although her touch is gentle, the way she receives the expression on her face is deeply maternal.
When I went to Europe in my youth, I bought a painting by an unsuccessful artist on a street corner in Paris. I was worried about packing it in my travel bag because it was an oil painting, but he offered to send it to me by international mail. Now that I think about it, it is a bit strange how a Frenchman who did not speak much English could have received that payment and postage from a Japanese boy on the far side of the Orient and sent the painting to me, but anyway, I was really impressed by the painting that was mailed to me somewhat after I returned home.
Since then, wherever I have moved, this clown picture has always been with me, so I think the life lessons I learned as a boy have lived on.
I myself have a few sentiments toward painting, and I am sure that the encounter between a painting and a human being is something like that kind of "destiny. It is fortuitous if they are close to me, and if they cannot accompany me, it is also "predestined".
In this context, Mr. Katata's paintings have accompanied me for a long time. I am deeply healed by his touch. This exhibition is open until July 28th, and I highly recommend you to visit.