Visual arts in Japan were untainted for centuries due to the nation’s strict closure to foreign influence. This changed as the country opened up to the West in the 1860s. As a result of this shift, traditional art forms such as ‘Kougei’ and fine arts such as ‘Bijutsu’ both underwent dramatic transformations that changed how modern Japanese artists brainstorm and create.

Craft techniques and materials associated with traditional Japanese culture are frequently observed in modern Japanese art and carry a cultural resonance. Ayako Someya’s solo exhibition at Tokyo Gallery- O2 (2022) and CO2 (2023) for example, showcased paintings based on elements and compounds found in the air to call attention to the changing environment. Inspired by the shapes and angles of the ancient craft of calligraphy, each painting featured long, unrehearsed, continuous strokes which made the paintings more open to interpretation. ‘My mind is empty when I actually paint,’ Someya explained.

Kyoto-based Genta Ishizuka on the other hand, creates his art innovatively with an ancient Japanese Urushi lacquer technique called Kanshitsu, or ‘dry lacquer’ which stemmed all the way back to the seventh century. Very few people today master this technique. Using it, Ishizuka is able to create striking, large scale abstract works as well as smaller objects, drawing inspiration from distinct shapes and lines of traditional Japanese crafts such as ceramics and other vessels. Pieces in his ‘Surface Tactility’ series resemble lustrous blobs which can be interpreted as clusters of cells, astronomical phenomena, or even emergent life forms. Their vivid colours paired with unconventional curves evoke different emotions and draw connection to Japanese traditional aesthetics- truly impressive.