Future Present has collaborated with Japanese artist Isao Makino on a special series of five sumi-e artworks. Created in the deepest black ink using traditional calligraphy brushes, each piece explores fluidity and contrast shaped by the rhythm of music. These original works have been transformed into collectible gift boxes, bags and paper. Made in Japan to the highest quality, this limited-edition gift packaging is designed to impress at first sight and to be treasured long after.

At checkout, simply add gift packaging and our team will place your order in the best-suited gift packaging option. We’ll wrap it with care ensuring every piece arrives thoughtfully presented.

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Makino’s series begins not with image but with listening. Entering a state of quiet deep meditation shaped by the principles of Zen, he lets breath and sound sharpen his senses until music becomes texture, memory and sensation. When the mind reaches such a state, the sense of hearing sharpens. As the brush follows the movement of improvisational piano, strings and wind live instruments, the ink takes on a life of its own, revealing forms that sit somewhere between painting and music. Created in traditional sumi ink on handmade washi paper, the Future Present series reflects both discipline and instinct, rooted in centuries of Japanese practice and tradition.

Born in Kitakyushu and now based in Tokyo, Isao Makino works across painting, collage and collaborative projects with musicians. After early work as a designer, he transitioned fully into painting in 1992 and has since exhibited widely across Japan. Beyond his studio practice, Makino has a long-standing editorial presence, co-founding the art magazine Shigatsu to Jūgatsu and contributing to respected publications across different fields. His work draws on daily life, travel and the encounters that inform his creative world. A recipient of numerous awards, Makino remains a distinctive voice in contemporary Japanese art, grounded in observation, craft and a deep sense of place.