How the Art of Tanaka Suguru Inspired My Next Horror Novel

Throughout my life, only two paintings have stopped me in my tracks, making the room dilate around me. The first was on display in a public library in Amiens, France—not a renowned art gallery or museum in Paris. There was no admission fee or bulletproof glass. Just a quiet wing showcasing some local artwork. And when I saw the Untitled painting, I think I finally grasped what my art teachers had been ranting about all those years.

The second time this happened was in 2021 on Instagram when I stumbled across this piece by Tanaka Suguru.

Work by Suguru Tanaka

As a horror fiction author, it felt like this piece was designed to grab me by the cheeks and shake me. The monochromatic palette is immediately unsettling (red is the exclusive sponsor of the world’s scariest shit, after all), and its scale forces you to position yourself inside the image. I found myself wondering how big this thing was. How big was I? Is all color absorbed here—would my skin appear red? My teeth black?

And then there’s the use of architecture as a character (which is a concept I totally knew before writing this). This building wasn’t so much constructed as it was grown—pulled taut by the musculature connecting it to the surface of this place (dimension?). There’s a sense that this thing, whatever it is, is alive. Physically or mentally? No idea. But it does give the impression there’s an awareness peering out at the audience looking in.

For me, the scariest part is the complete absence of life. The stark, black background and otherworldliness suggests that nothing can survive this place, or at least nothing from our world could.

As a storyteller, this gets my gears turning faster than usual. I find myself asking so many questions. What would happen if the artist panned left? Would we see more buildings off in the distance? How long would I have to walk before I found the sad remains of someone like me, someone that got sucked into this world and never made it out. How did we get here in the first place? And could I find a way to take my own audience along for the ride?

Various pieces by Suguru Tanaka

I’m currently working on my fourth novel, and Suguru’s artwork is playing a pivotal role in its construction. The world he’s created is an endless source of inspiration, and I can’t wait to finish the first draft. It goes to show you never know when you’re going to see something that feels like it was tailor made for you. It could be in the Louvre, or a public library, or, yes, even Instagram.

I reached out to Tanaka Suguru on Instagram and they very kindly gave me permission to share their work on my Substack. Please check them out on Instagram and buy a copy of their book on Amazon!