Get to Know the Artists in the Shikansuiyo Japanese traditional media Exhibition①

The literal meaning of the expression Shikansuiyo (紫幹翠葉) is “purple trunk, green leaves”, but it is used to refer to a beautiful scene of nature. From prehistoric times, the Japanese people have found beauty not only in Mt. Fuji and cherry blossom, but in the humble everyday nature of rice fields, wild flowers and birds, too. The artists have prepared their works with particular thought for the shrine and its sacred forests, and with passion, awe and respect for nature and our daily lives. The media chosen for their works are the traditional Japanese forms of folding screens, hanging scrolls, partition screens (paintings) and folding fans. A centerpiece of the show will be folding fan-shaped paintings commissioned from approximately thirty contemporary artists, renowned for both their skill and talent, which will be exhibited along one wall. We hope you will enjoy the many lucid and expressive works on show in the amazing natural surroundings of Meiji Shrine.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, 1960 . Graduated from Aichi Prefectures University of Art, 1986. Granted a scholarship for artist from Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan in 1996 and lived in Bangkok for one year. His paintings get hints from concrete forms such as vessels, pillows and forests. He has participated in many solo and group exhibitions in Japan and overseas, including ”Endless Summer”, Meguro Museum of Art (2004), "Kobayashi Takanobu Dream, dreaming us”, Yokosuka Museum of Art (2014), "Garden of Painting / Japanese Art of the 00s" The National Museum of Art (2010) etc. How work is included in the collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the National Museum of Art, Tokyo, and others.

Born in Kanagawa, Japan, 1992. Graduated MA, Tama Art University in 2017. He attracted attention for his partings of white tree-like forms on white backgrounds, and expanded into a more colorful style. Recent exhibitions include  "Practice_01: Drawing lines" EUKARYOTE, Tokyo (2019),  "para nature" EUKARYOTE, Tokyo (2018), ”Memory of Retina − Mythology −"  Sezon Museum of Modern Art, Nagano (2018), and "Astray in Time"  SEZON ART GALLERY, Tokyo (2017). Awards include: Ichiro Fukuzawa Prize (2015),  Prize for Excellence TURNER AWARD 2014, 2nd Prize and Special Jury Prize (Kohei NAWA Prize) "CAF ART AWARD 2014" etc.

Born in Gunma, Japan, 1964. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Fine Arts.Established H et H with Tadaaki Hyodo in 1988. His work started with large scale installations of his photographic works and include many intellectual works layering books and IT technology. Project f450 is a personal project, but in recent years f450 works have been incorporated into H et H works as well.Main exhibitions include “ENTROPY”, Tokyo University of the Arts (1991), "The Homeostasis”, Roentgen Kunst Institute(1992), “Theme: AIDS”, Henie Onstad Kunstinstitut Oslo Norway (1993-1994), “Closure”, Axis Gallery, Tokyo (2002) and “f450 Number Book”, un petit GARAGE, Tokyo (2018).

Graduated from Tama Art University, Japanese painting course in 1997. Works mainly in installation.Debut exhibition at "BLACK, SUTRA, AND THE REST", Takahashi Collection Kagurazaka, Japan(2008). In recent years, he has been active in a number of solo and group exhibitions, pursuing a style of nonsense expression using motifs of insignificant and unimportant things and pop culture.

Born in Hyogo, Japan, 1983. Graduated from Kyoto College University of Art,  Master of Fine Arts.After working as a lecturer at Kyoto University of Art and Design currently is artistic director at DiGITAL ARTISAN. inc, Tokyo. Her works take theme of feel, using sight to stimulate the sense of touch. She works in a multitude of media using a variety of technologies including performance, sculpture made with 3D printers and photography. Recent works include paintings of fearsome stories and armored knights in battle. 

Born in Takasaki, Japan, 1970. Graduated Tama Art University, Japanese Painting in 1994. She uses primarilyJapanese painting materials to suggestively express the conflicts of self-consciousness, social discomfort, and anxiety that lurks in communication with others. Solo exhibitions include Nishimura Gallery, Tokyo (2005~), Takasaki Tower Museum of Art (2008) Kestner Gesellschaft, Germany (2008) etc, as well as many group exhibitions. Grand Prize at The Sovereign Asian Art Prize (2007), The 24th Takashimaya Charitable Trust for Art and Cultural Prize (2014). Her works are in the collections of The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, The National Museum of Art, Osaka, and The Museum of Modern Art, New York, etc.

Born in Shiga, Japan, 1980. Graduated Kyoto University of Art and Design in 2003. Spent one year in Germany, then entered Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Returned to Japan in 2008, where she works mainly in Kyoto on painting, illustration and picture books. As well as taking part in "Garden of Painting / Japanese Art of the 00s" The National Museum of Art (2010) has exhibited widely in Japan and overseas. Awards include honorable mentions in the 33rd Kyoto Prefecture Culture Awards (2014) and the Koji Kinutani Award (2010). Her work is in the collection of the The National Museum of Art.

Born in Kumamoto, Japan. Graduated in art (oil painting) at the junior College of Art and Design Musashino Art University. Graduated in landscape design at the Kyoto University of Art and Design. Graduated in environmental design at the Postgraduate School of the Kyoto University of Art and Design. Kyoto University of Art and Design, part-time lecturer. Took up photography in 2010 and her love of mountaineering led to a career as a mountain photographer. Her knowledge of landscape and gardening informs her landscapes based on the beauty of Japanese nature. She has a unique sense of framing, and has spent a year photographing Meiji Jingu for this exhibition. A solo show is planned in the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery in the autumn.

Born Awaji Island, Japan. Since 2003 has created art works using embroidery technique on photographs. In 2011 became the youngest artist to hold a solo exhibition at Mito Art Tower. Her representative works include “Bijo Saishu” and “Complex” series. Her numerous awards include the ‘Best Debut Award’, the ‘VOCA’ exhibition prize, ‘VOGUE JAPAN Women of the Year’, ‘ASIAGRAPH Creator’s (Tsumugi) Award’.