NEWS - 2025.12.22
The Uplifting Power of Art in Medical Spaces — “Art × Well-being,” a Collaboration Exhibition by SBI Medic and SBI Art Auction
Art has increasingly been recognized as a quiet yet powerful presence that can soothe the mind and inspire a sense of optimism in everyday life. Within medical environments, the presence of artworks is expected to ease tension and impart a sense of calm throughout the space.
SBI Wellness Bank Co., Ltd. (“SBI Wellness Bank”) and SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd. (“SBI Art Auction”) are launching a collaborative exhibition, “Art × Well-being”, aimed at enhancing well-being through art. For visitors to SBI Medic, we have selected works that offer visual brightness, familiarity, and a sense of reassurance. These are pieces that naturally draw the eye and uplift one’s mood, bringing comfort through their presence.
1．The Role of Art in Medical Environments
<Special Consultation Room / SBI Medic>
Medical spaces often heighten feelings of nervousness or anxiety. Waiting for an appointment or undergoing tests—moments in which emotions are easily unsettled—are influenced greatly by the surrounding environment. In such contexts, art serves not merely as decoration but as a visual anchor that quietly supports the emotional state of visitors.
Colors, motifs, and composition work directly on the mind in ways that words cannot. Encountering bright hues or gentle rhythmic lines may naturally help visitors regulate their breath and gradually release tension. These subtle shifts, often occurring without conscious awareness, can contribute meaningfully to the quality of the medical experience.
Research on these effects has progressed globally. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report noting the potential of the arts to support both mental and physical health:
“The findings demonstrated that the arts can potentially impact both mental and physical health.”
— WHO, 2019, What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review, Summary p. vii
The report further highlights the potential of the arts to encourage positive behavioral change:
“There is promising preliminary evidence from individual observational studies that people who engage with the arts are more likely to lead healthier lives, including eating healthily and staying physically active, irrespective of their socioeconomic status and social capital.”
— WHO, 2019, What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review, p.16
These insights—pointing to the ways in which vivid colors and approachable visual motifs can promote a positive shift in mood—are aligned with the intentions behind this exhibition.
2．About the “Art × Well-being” Initiative
<Endoscopy Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
In preparation for this exhibition, SBI Art Auction conducted a visitor survey themed “Art That Gives You Energy” during the 72nd SBI Art Auction: Modern and Contemporary Art held in May 2024.
The survey was conducted over four days, from May 21 (Wed.) to 24 (Sat.), 2025. Visitors participated by scanning a QR code at the venue and accessing a Microsoft Forms questionnaire, resulting in 109 valid responses.
Participants voted freely for one artwork from six preselected pieces or “Other,” allowing us to collect intuitive, unfiltered impressions. The aggregated artist-based voting ratios (Please refer Chart 1: Vote Share by Artist) revealed several consistent tendencies, regardless of vote share.
Graph 1 “Vote Share by Artist”
Key tendencies extracted from both the voting results and free-form responses include:
• Colorful and clearly defined use of color
• Approachable motifs and character-like features
• Light, positive compositional qualities
Artists such as Ayako Rokkaku, Yayoi Kusama, and KAWS ranked highly. However, for this exhibition, the selection process emphasized not only the vote count but also the visual tendencies observed throughout the responses. Based on this analysis, we focused on works that “naturally draw the eye and convey a bright impression.”
Accordingly, the exhibition features not only artists with strong survey results but also works by Yoshitomo Nara—whose imagery evokes familiarity and quiet emotional depth—and Takashi Murakami, known for his lively color palettes and dynamic compositions. Collectively, these works aim to create an environment in which visitors can engage with the art comfortably and intuitively.
In parallel with the exhibition, an additional survey will be conducted for clinic visitors to assess changes in mood before and after viewing the artworks, as well as the types of works that leave a lasting impression. These insights will inform future exhibitions and the ongoing development of art-integrated medical spaces.
3．Featured Artists & Works
◆ Yayoi Kusama
<Endoscopy Lounge / SBI Medic>
Born in 1929 in Nagano, Japan. Yayoi Kusama is renowned for her immersive visual language rooted in hallucinatory experiences from childhood. Her signature use of repetitive polka dots and net patterns unfolds across vivid fields of red, yellow, and green, embodying universal themes such as “infinity” and “the cycle of life.” These motifs draw viewers into a pulsating, expansive world. Her mirrored installations further amplify this immersive quality, surrounding audiences in a uniquely experiential dimension.
This exhibition features works that depict everyday motifs as well as compositions filled with expressive human figures. Their vibrant colors and rhythmic structures capture the essence of Kusama’s art, offering visitors a dynamic and life-affirming visual experience.
◆ Takashi Murakami
<Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
Takashi Murakami introduced the “Superflat” theory, which bridges the flattened aesthetics of traditional Japanese art with the visual idioms of anime and manga. His works combine bright color fields, refined decoration, and non-perspectival compositions, forming a distinctive aesthetic that engages both contemporary culture and art historical discourse.
Active across painting, sculpture, fashion, and media art, Murakami moves freely between scales and modes of expression. For this exhibition, we present his iconic flower-themed works—compositions that balance exuberance and precision, leaving a strong and uplifting impression on viewers.
◆ Rokkaku Ayako
<Endoscopy Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
Born in 1982 in Chiba, Japan. Ayako Rokkaku is known for her unique technique of painting directly with her fingers and palms rather than brushes. This improvisational approach generates a vivid sense of rhythm and movement. Her canvases feature dreamlike young girls, flowers, and animals rendered with vibrant colors and energetic strokes, leaving behind the palpable traces of hand movement.
Her process itself becomes part of the artwork, carrying an immediacy that conveys the artist’s raw energy. The works included here highlight her emblematic girl motifs and present the expansive, spirited world that defines Rokkaku’s practice.
◆ Yoshitomo Nara
<Endoscopy Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
Born in 1959 in Aomori, Japan. Yoshitomo Nara is celebrated for his depictions of children and animals with distinctive eyes and subtle emotional expressions. Behind their innocence lies strength, solitude, and quiet introspection. As viewers encounter these works, their own emotions rise to the surface, fostering an intimate dialogue between artwork and observer.
The pieces featured in this exhibition capture the calm yet familiar presence characteristic of Nara’s style, guiding viewers into a gentle, contemplative state. The simplicity of the compositions belies the depth of feeling embedded within them—one of Nara’s defining strengths.
◆ KAWS / Brian Donnelly
<Endoscopy Lounge / SBI Medic>
Born in 1974 in New Jersey, USA. KAWS is a contemporary artist who began in street art and has expanded into painting, sculpture, and large-scale installations. His works feature iconic character forms, smooth lines, vivid color blocks, and bold contours—situating him within the lineage of pop art while retaining an unmistakable emotional resonance.
After gaining attention for interventions on advertising billboards, KAWS achieved global recognition and continues to explore new directions in his practice. The works on display present his striking visual language through bold compositions, intense color contrasts, and meticulous finish.
◆ Mr Doodle
<Special Consultation Room / SBI Medic>
Born in 1994 in Kent, UK. Mr Doodle is known for his spontaneous, continuous-line drawings that fill entire surfaces without preliminary sketches. His playful “doodle world,” overflowing with characters and symbols, creates a lively visual rhythm he describes as “graffiti spaghetti.”
The works shown here capture the energy and humor of his style, with motifs interweaving in colorful, free-flowing harmony. Each shift of the viewer’s gaze reveals new forms, making his work widely appealing across age groups.
◆ Kaii Higashiyama
<Lounge / SBI Medic>
Born in 1908 in Yokohama, Japan. Kaii Higashiyama is a leading figure in postwar Japanese painting, celebrated for the serene blue and green tones often referred to as “Higashiyama Blue.” His landscapes—deeply contemplative in nature—include major commissions such as the murals for the Tōgū Palace and the Miei-dō Hall of Tōshōdaiji Temple.
Shunchō (Signs of Spring) (1988), featured in this exhibition, is a woodblock print capturing the quiet transition from winter to spring. Its delicate, translucent colors convey a gentle breath of seasonal change. The harmony of subtle brushwork and clear tonality reflects the profound spiritual sensibility that Higashiyama pursued throughout his career.
4．Reference & Notes
【Note 1：WHO 2019 Report “What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?”】
PDF：https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/e1cc8536-773d-446f-9822-8ae376f41415/content
Quoted excerpts：
• “The findings demonstrated that the arts can potentially impact both mental and physical health.”（Summary p. vii）
• “There is promising preliminary evidence from individual observational studies that people who engage with the arts are more likely to lead healthier lives, including eating healthily and staying physically active, irrespective of their socioeconomic status and social capital.”（p.16）
【Note 2：WHO × Jameel Arts & Health Lab — The Lancet Global Series on the Health Benefits of the Arts (2023)】
https://www.who.int/news/item/25-09-2023-ground-breaking-research-series-on-health-benefits-of-the-arts
https://www.who.int/initiatives/arts-and-health
Topics include potential impacts on NCDs, social prescribing, and cross-sector collaboration across education, health care, and cultural policy.
SBI Wellness Bank Co., Ltd. (“SBI Wellness Bank”) and SBI Art Auction Co., Ltd. (“SBI Art Auction”) are launching a collaborative exhibition, “Art × Well-being”, aimed at enhancing well-being through art. For visitors to SBI Medic, we have selected works that offer visual brightness, familiarity, and a sense of reassurance. These are pieces that naturally draw the eye and uplift one’s mood, bringing comfort through their presence.
1．The Role of Art in Medical Environments
<Special Consultation Room / SBI Medic>
Medical spaces often heighten feelings of nervousness or anxiety. Waiting for an appointment or undergoing tests—moments in which emotions are easily unsettled—are influenced greatly by the surrounding environment. In such contexts, art serves not merely as decoration but as a visual anchor that quietly supports the emotional state of visitors.
Colors, motifs, and composition work directly on the mind in ways that words cannot. Encountering bright hues or gentle rhythmic lines may naturally help visitors regulate their breath and gradually release tension. These subtle shifts, often occurring without conscious awareness, can contribute meaningfully to the quality of the medical experience.
Research on these effects has progressed globally. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report noting the potential of the arts to support both mental and physical health:
“The findings demonstrated that the arts can potentially impact both mental and physical health.”
— WHO, 2019, What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review, Summary p. vii
The report further highlights the potential of the arts to encourage positive behavioral change:
“There is promising preliminary evidence from individual observational studies that people who engage with the arts are more likely to lead healthier lives, including eating healthily and staying physically active, irrespective of their socioeconomic status and social capital.”
— WHO, 2019, What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review, p.16
These insights—pointing to the ways in which vivid colors and approachable visual motifs can promote a positive shift in mood—are aligned with the intentions behind this exhibition.
2．About the “Art × Well-being” Initiative
<Endoscopy Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
In preparation for this exhibition, SBI Art Auction conducted a visitor survey themed “Art That Gives You Energy” during the 72nd SBI Art Auction: Modern and Contemporary Art held in May 2024.
The survey was conducted over four days, from May 21 (Wed.) to 24 (Sat.), 2025. Visitors participated by scanning a QR code at the venue and accessing a Microsoft Forms questionnaire, resulting in 109 valid responses.
Participants voted freely for one artwork from six preselected pieces or “Other,” allowing us to collect intuitive, unfiltered impressions. The aggregated artist-based voting ratios (Please refer Chart 1: Vote Share by Artist) revealed several consistent tendencies, regardless of vote share.
Graph 1 “Vote Share by Artist”
Key tendencies extracted from both the voting results and free-form responses include:
• Colorful and clearly defined use of color
• Approachable motifs and character-like features
• Light, positive compositional qualities
Artists such as Ayako Rokkaku, Yayoi Kusama, and KAWS ranked highly. However, for this exhibition, the selection process emphasized not only the vote count but also the visual tendencies observed throughout the responses. Based on this analysis, we focused on works that “naturally draw the eye and convey a bright impression.”
Accordingly, the exhibition features not only artists with strong survey results but also works by Yoshitomo Nara—whose imagery evokes familiarity and quiet emotional depth—and Takashi Murakami, known for his lively color palettes and dynamic compositions. Collectively, these works aim to create an environment in which visitors can engage with the art comfortably and intuitively.
In parallel with the exhibition, an additional survey will be conducted for clinic visitors to assess changes in mood before and after viewing the artworks, as well as the types of works that leave a lasting impression. These insights will inform future exhibitions and the ongoing development of art-integrated medical spaces.
3．Featured Artists & Works
◆ Yayoi Kusama
<Endoscopy Lounge / SBI Medic>
Born in 1929 in Nagano, Japan. Yayoi Kusama is renowned for her immersive visual language rooted in hallucinatory experiences from childhood. Her signature use of repetitive polka dots and net patterns unfolds across vivid fields of red, yellow, and green, embodying universal themes such as “infinity” and “the cycle of life.” These motifs draw viewers into a pulsating, expansive world. Her mirrored installations further amplify this immersive quality, surrounding audiences in a uniquely experiential dimension.
This exhibition features works that depict everyday motifs as well as compositions filled with expressive human figures. Their vibrant colors and rhythmic structures capture the essence of Kusama’s art, offering visitors a dynamic and life-affirming visual experience.
◆ Takashi Murakami
<Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
Takashi Murakami introduced the “Superflat” theory, which bridges the flattened aesthetics of traditional Japanese art with the visual idioms of anime and manga. His works combine bright color fields, refined decoration, and non-perspectival compositions, forming a distinctive aesthetic that engages both contemporary culture and art historical discourse.
Active across painting, sculpture, fashion, and media art, Murakami moves freely between scales and modes of expression. For this exhibition, we present his iconic flower-themed works—compositions that balance exuberance and precision, leaving a strong and uplifting impression on viewers.
◆ Rokkaku Ayako
<Endoscopy Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
Born in 1982 in Chiba, Japan. Ayako Rokkaku is known for her unique technique of painting directly with her fingers and palms rather than brushes. This improvisational approach generates a vivid sense of rhythm and movement. Her canvases feature dreamlike young girls, flowers, and animals rendered with vibrant colors and energetic strokes, leaving behind the palpable traces of hand movement.
Her process itself becomes part of the artwork, carrying an immediacy that conveys the artist’s raw energy. The works included here highlight her emblematic girl motifs and present the expansive, spirited world that defines Rokkaku’s practice.
◆ Yoshitomo Nara
<Endoscopy Waiting Room / SBI Medic>
Born in 1959 in Aomori, Japan. Yoshitomo Nara is celebrated for his depictions of children and animals with distinctive eyes and subtle emotional expressions. Behind their innocence lies strength, solitude, and quiet introspection. As viewers encounter these works, their own emotions rise to the surface, fostering an intimate dialogue between artwork and observer.
The pieces featured in this exhibition capture the calm yet familiar presence characteristic of Nara’s style, guiding viewers into a gentle, contemplative state. The simplicity of the compositions belies the depth of feeling embedded within them—one of Nara’s defining strengths.
◆ KAWS / Brian Donnelly
<Endoscopy Lounge / SBI Medic>
Born in 1974 in New Jersey, USA. KAWS is a contemporary artist who began in street art and has expanded into painting, sculpture, and large-scale installations. His works feature iconic character forms, smooth lines, vivid color blocks, and bold contours—situating him within the lineage of pop art while retaining an unmistakable emotional resonance.
After gaining attention for interventions on advertising billboards, KAWS achieved global recognition and continues to explore new directions in his practice. The works on display present his striking visual language through bold compositions, intense color contrasts, and meticulous finish.
◆ Mr Doodle
<Special Consultation Room / SBI Medic>
Born in 1994 in Kent, UK. Mr Doodle is known for his spontaneous, continuous-line drawings that fill entire surfaces without preliminary sketches. His playful “doodle world,” overflowing with characters and symbols, creates a lively visual rhythm he describes as “graffiti spaghetti.”
The works shown here capture the energy and humor of his style, with motifs interweaving in colorful, free-flowing harmony. Each shift of the viewer’s gaze reveals new forms, making his work widely appealing across age groups.
◆ Kaii Higashiyama
<Lounge / SBI Medic>
Born in 1908 in Yokohama, Japan. Kaii Higashiyama is a leading figure in postwar Japanese painting, celebrated for the serene blue and green tones often referred to as “Higashiyama Blue.” His landscapes—deeply contemplative in nature—include major commissions such as the murals for the Tōgū Palace and the Miei-dō Hall of Tōshōdaiji Temple.
Shunchō (Signs of Spring) (1988), featured in this exhibition, is a woodblock print capturing the quiet transition from winter to spring. Its delicate, translucent colors convey a gentle breath of seasonal change. The harmony of subtle brushwork and clear tonality reflects the profound spiritual sensibility that Higashiyama pursued throughout his career.
4．Reference & Notes
【Note 1：WHO 2019 Report “What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?”】
PDF：https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/e1cc8536-773d-446f-9822-8ae376f41415/content
Quoted excerpts：
• “The findings demonstrated that the arts can potentially impact both mental and physical health.”（Summary p. vii）
• “There is promising preliminary evidence from individual observational studies that people who engage with the arts are more likely to lead healthier lives, including eating healthily and staying physically active, irrespective of their socioeconomic status and social capital.”（p.16）
【Note 2：WHO × Jameel Arts & Health Lab — The Lancet Global Series on the Health Benefits of the Arts (2023)】
https://www.who.int/news/item/25-09-2023-ground-breaking-research-series-on-health-benefits-of-the-arts
https://www.who.int/initiatives/arts-and-health
Topics include potential impacts on NCDs, social prescribing, and cross-sector collaboration across education, health care, and cultural policy.
