In 2006, Tadashi Hayakawa had a premonition about when he would die. The timeline he foresaw has come and gone, and now, well into his 80’s, he continues to live an active life as an artist and mentor. Death has remained a thoughtful presence in his life—not something to fear, but something to understand and accept. A new exhibition of his paintings at Bitfactory Gallery — Joy of life and death, on view October 16 – November 14, 2026 — is born from that perspective: a celebration of life made richer by an acceptance of its impermanence. Alongside his own work, Hayakawa will feature a curated selection of paintings by emerging artist Vicki Christensen.

Hayakawa’s paintings bring movement and stillness into careful balance. His sweeping “sumi” brushstrokes move across the canvas with immediacy—at times forceful and assured, at others, dissolving into quieter, more delicate marks. Against them, expansive areas of negative space allow the compositions to breathe.

Hayakawa believes there is a “life in the heaven” beyond this one waiting for him. In the meantime, his work is fueled by the joy of still being here, by gratitude for the life he has lived, and by the awareness that, in recent years, he has more than once defied death. Rather than treating life and death as opposing forces, Hayakawa allows them to occupy the same space. Motion exists beside silence. Color emerges from restraint. Forms arrive, change, and recede. The paintings in this show do not attempt to resolve these contrasts. Instead, they find serenity within them—an acceptance of impermanence, and a quiet celebration of the energy that remains while we are here.

As one of the artists Hayakawa has supported through his workshop practice, Christensen’s inclusion reflects both his commitment to mentorship and his recognition of her strength as a painter. Her work brings a distinct energy to the exhibition, expanding its meditation on presence, change, and emotional resonance.