On 3 September 2025, at 4 p.m., the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan will host the opening of a solo exhibition by Alex Sorbonn, a master of Japanese jeweler drop painting Arare and Maki-e, entitled “Eternal Moments of the Universe”.
Alex Sorbonn — an artist, designer, and sculptor, participant of exhibitions at major international venues, including the Tretyakov Gallery. Winner of the Moscow International Art Exhibition in 2017, he has confidently established himself as a master who combines tradition and innovation in his work.
He is the creator of artworks for the bands The Prodigy and RAMMSTEIN, Hollywood actor Mark Dacascos, and many other stars of show business, cinema, and sports.
The exhibition paid special attention to the artist’s collaborative projects with engineers in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The concept of the exposition is built around the idea of displaying the timeless beauty of handcraft, which, when entering into dialogue with modern technologies, transforms into museum art objects of the future. These works raise an important philosophical question about the primacy of the Creator and the Human in a world of rapid digital transformations.
The exhibition will feature about 50 panels created using the unique techniques of Arare and Maki-e, once practiced by Japanese masters at the court of Emperor Tenjō in the 17th century.
Arare — translated from Japanese means “hail”. This technique is a complex process of applying microscopic drops of paint onto a surface. Visually, it creates the effect of dew or rain leaving traces on the surface. Arare lends sophistication and depth to the works, as if animating the image from within.
Maki-e — an ancient Japanese art of creating patterns using lacquer and pigments. In this traditional technique, masters use the finest gold, silver, and colored powders to achieve an effect of depth and radiance. This art form requires the highest precision, mastery, and time.
By blending the techniques of Arare and Maki-e, adding his own authorial elements and modern technologies, Alex Sorbonn creates artworks that balance between Japanese classics and contemporary art. His paintings are born through a process of multilayer application of micro-droplets, which makes each piece unique. This approach allows the viewer to perceive “movement” in a static image, awakening a whole spectrum of emotions.
The works of Alex Sorbonn created for those who value genuine beauty and seek to surround themselves with unique pieces of art. Each stroke in his paintings reflects a love of craftsmanship, the depth of personal emotion, and a sincere desire to make the world brighter and more harmonious.
At the exhibition, both the artist’s iconic works already known to the public and new pieces created specifically for this project will be presented. These works reflect the evolution of his personal style and demonstrate how eternal artistic principles gain new life in a contemporary context.
“Frozen Moments of the Universe” is not just a visual journey. It is a philosophical reflection on the nature of time, on the unique power of art to unite past and future through every drop of paint, capturing a single moment.
The exhibition runs until September 24, 2025
