Japan | startdrawing.org

Maki Kahori

Writing by Bel Ragay on 25 May 2009 7:29 AM

Kahori Maki born on 1969 is a successful Illustrator and Designer based in Tokyo, Japan. She studied Fine Arts in The Art Students League of New York and returned to Tokyo as a freelance designer.

Her unique and detailed artworks are flawlessly intertwined with Fashion and Installation (video, and various multi-media) making her works completely stand out from the rest. See more of her art on Behance.

Category: Fine Arts > Japan

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Yamamoto Ryuki 山本竜基

Exhibition "SHI SHIN KEI 私心景 -Super Privatism-"

Writing by Sam Lay on 30 Nov 2008 9:17 AM

Woah! startdrawing is hearing news of Yamamoto Ryuki's solo exhibition from Mizuma Action starting from November 26th, 2008! Exciting! Especially since this is his first show in two years!

Yamamoto was born in 1976 in Mie Prefecture. He completed his postgraduate study from Tokyo Zokei University. He is known for his detailed photorealistic self-portraits that are full of humor.

In this exhibition, entitled “SHI SHIN KEI* -Super Privatism-,” Yamamoto continues with his usual employment of humor and self portrayal as a device to translate his discovery in this society, and in his life onto picture surface. His works acts as a reflective mirror to many of us that we unknowingly are, like many of those that walks around emotionlessly in the city, in a similar state. Its just that we feel to recognize it. The exhibition will be held at the Mizuma Art Gallery from 26th November 2008 to 17 January 2009.

[Information and resources extracted from Mizuma Art Gallery]

Category: Illustrations > Japan

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Jerome Senaillat (Remka)

Writing by Andrea Innocent on 28 Nov 2008 2:53 PM

"Illustration is supposed to illustrate something : a text, a concept, whatever. It might be a paradox but I like much more non-illustrating illustrations, driving the viewer in something different, maybe more twisted or oniric than plain narrative images". - Remka

Jerome Senaillat, also known as Remka, is a multi-talented creative from France now living and working in Tokyo, Japan. I have had the pleasure of meeting Remka this year and so would love to share his imagery with you.

Jerome sites music as his main inspiration, in that it puts him a certain mood or frame of mind that allows his images to come forth. His paintings, in particular, are quietly surreal, thought provoking and wonderfully executed. I find they put me in a sweetly contemplative mood.

Working as an art director in a small agency in Tokyo he specializes in branding and identity, illustration, web conception, web development, online marketing/teasing.

There is also an interview with Remka over at Gurato.com where you'll find lots of other wonderful image makers. I look forward to more mood altering work from Remka, oh and I also completely agree with this theories on a Hollywood version of Akira....'catastrophe' indeed!!!

Category: Illustrations > Japan

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Aida Makoto 会田誠

Writing by Sam Lay on 23 Nov 2008 11:30 AM

Makoto Aida 会田誠, born in 1965, is one of Japan's most diverse and controversial artists. He resides both in Tokyo and New York.

For several years now, the Tokyo art scene has been trying its best to keep up with the work of Makoto Aida, a task made difficult by the fact that it is nearly impossible to anticipate where the enigmatic artist will go next. At the ripe old age of 35, Aida has covered most of the artistic angles with an oeuvre that includes manga, painting, video, and installation, executed with such a wide range of expressive qualities that it is difficult to believe all could have been created by a single artist. There were technically brilliant paintings, ink brush works, expressionistic oil paintings, a video, a sculpture, and a collaboration with students. One of the strengths of his work has been this sense of diversity of media and methods through which he isolates and spears various issues.

Aida's work can be categorized into three related areas: questions of Japanese politics and power, questions of Japanese aesthetics and beauty, and questions of relationships with the "West". Aida may be best-known for his disturbing Nihonga paintings of young female amputees, some of them leashed like a dog. He has also exhibited a "Fake Suicide Machine," built a cardboard castle for the Shinjuku homeless, and done a splendid series of mock children’s paintings on themes such as "Save Nature," and "Be Punctual."

[Article and Pictures extracted from Mizumi Art Gallery and Artnet]

Category: Illustrations > Japan

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Kumi Yamashita

Writing by Don Low on 24 Oct 2008 5:56 AM

Born in 1968, Kumi Yamashita has been exhibiting solo since 1995, her first solo in Washington, USA, whereas her most recent show, titled "Sunny Days and Starry Nights, was a giant blanket in black sewed with every national flag of the world placed in their geographical postions like in the map. The work was exhibited at the Esplanade in Singapore in 2005. I am more impressed by her other work that utilised light and cutouts placed strategically so that a combination of both formed the most unexpected imagery on the wall. Check out her work and biography at: http://kumiyamashita.com/

Category: Fine Arts > Japan

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