In this third solo exhibition at SHIKISAISHA, Yuji Kanamaru presents approximately 15 works ranging from small pieces to size-30 canvases, focusing on his animal series that actively incorporate collage techniques.
Driven by a fascination with the mysteries of life and time, Kanamaru has long dedicated his career to depicting animals that "rule over time," such as ancient fish and tortoises. In this exhibition, he takes on a new challenge by featuring legendary creatures including dragons, phoenixes, and shisa (guardian lions).
These mythical beings have been closely intertwined with human culture and daily life since ancient times, often regarded as objects of awe or as guardian spirits. By engaging with these legendary animals and exploring their inner nature, Kanamaru traces the history of the human perspective on life itself. This exhibition offers a profound look into the evolving creative process of the artist.
In this third solo exhibition at SHIKISAISHA, Yuji Kanamaru presents approximately 15 works ranging from small pieces to size-30 canvases, focusing on his animal series that actively incorporate collage techniques.
Driven by a fascination with the mysteries of life and time, Kanamaru has long dedicated his career to depicting animals that "rule over time," such as ancient fish and tortoises. In this exhibition, he takes on a new challenge by featuring legendary creatures including dragons, phoenixes, and shisa (guardian lions).
These mythical beings have been closely intertwined with human culture and daily life since ancient times, often regarded as objects of awe or as guardian spirits. By engaging with these legendary animals and exploring their inner nature, Kanamaru traces the history of the human perspective on life itself. This exhibition offers a profound look into the evolving creative process of the artist.
Yuji Kanamaru
Yuji Kanamaru
Born in Kanagawa in 1978.
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Working from a foundation in Nihonga, he develops a distinctive painterly language
defined by unique textures and layered, vibrant yet subtle colors.
Incorporating elements such as fabric, fragments of newspapers, and intentional cracks,
his surfaces generate a singular material presence.
Influenced by his childhood spent in the Middle East,
his work evokes a world where a sense of the unfamiliar and nostalgia intersect.
Yuji Kanamaru
Born in Kanagawa in 1978.
Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Working from a foundation in Nihonga, he develops a distinctive painterly language
defined by unique textures and layered, vibrant yet subtle colors.
Incorporating elements such as fabric, fragments of newspapers, and intentional cracks,
his surfaces generate a singular material presence.
Influenced by his childhood spent in the Middle East,
his work evokes a world where a sense of the unfamiliar and nostalgia intersect.
