Shingo IGUCH

1957        Born in Hiroshima, Japan

1983        Debuted in the comic magazine GARO

1984        Published the manga “Z CHAN”

In 1984, a project called “Z PLAN” was launched with the aim of exploring the possibilities of virtual worlds. The world of the little boy “Z CHAN”, symbolized by a magic hat and eye mask, was the theme, presenting a unique world filled with philosophy, hints, and mysteries through comics, books, novels, poetry, illustrations, paintings, performances, music, and other means. Most of his artistic works interfere with the current era in the world of “Z CHAN”, breaking down and reconstructing the elements of the manga “Z CHAN” into a simple artistic style.

Chiyu UEMAE

Chiyu Uemae was born in Kyoto prefecture, Japan in 1920. Chiyu Uemae’s career began with his involvement in the Gutai Group, which was founded by his hard-won mentor Jiro Yoshihara (the founder of the avant-garde Gutai group). In 1953, Uemae meets Yoshihara, since then, the artist takes part in every Gutai exhibition until its dissolution. Uemae, unlike many of his Gutai peers, is not known for using action as the basis of his mixed-media works.

Prior to joining the Gutai, Uemae had studied Nanga and western movements, but believes his most formative experience was an apprenticeship in Kyozome or the Kyoto style of dyeing. Because of this training, as well as a childhood immersed in non-figurative design, the practice of sewing became paramount to Uemae’s mature style. His mixed-media paintings sometimes feature textile elements, but are characteristically identified by his careful compositions comprised of fine dots or patterns. Chiyu Uemae’s wide-ranging creations from two-dimensional works which are composed of pattern accumulation by painting knives or of sensitive stitches to sculptural works made of cloth or wood or sawdust. He remains active in his 80s and 90s, still producing etchings and silkscreens.

Yuki MATSUEDA

It’s one thing to conform to boring, one-dimensional street signs, but one gets a whole different feeling when obeying the incredible 3D art sings by Japanese artist Yuki Matsueda. These artworks are definitely attractive and easy to pay attention to. The series is fun, creative and unique—the pieces certainly break the mold.
Matsueda’s work consists of signs, ordinary elements and abstract images trying to escape the plastic frame they’re put into. The artist creates a 3D piece by giving the impression that the subject of the image has come to life and is trying to escape its constraints. My favorite has to be the exit man trying to actually exit—it’s extremely ironic and eye-catching.

Emi UCHIDA

Born in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

1990  Graduated from Women’s Art College

1990-2003  Worked as a fashion designer and then started his journey as an artist.

2002  Studied copper engraving under the tutelage of contemporary artist Akiyama Ryoichi

From the age of eight to 2004, she has been studying painting with Japanese painter Ando Mineko

2005  Studied under the tutelage of the inheritor of Bizen ware, Abe Anjin

Emi Uchida’s abstract works are infinitely extending as a whole. But on closer inspection, they revealed a dense interplay of charcoal paintinged lines suggestive of a network.The impression conveyed by the painted surfaces was of space exploding into infinity. Here were the neural networks of the human body connecting with the unbounded expanses of the universe and transporting with them the viewer. The familiar segued spectacularly into the ineffable.

At the same time, Emi Uchida is also engaged in printmaking. She draws nourishment from the “Shunga” of the Edo period, using lines and collages to deal with taboos and explicitness, concealment and revealing, and endow tradition with new interpretation and vitality.

Her works have been exhibited in Japan, China, Taiwan (China), the United States, Europe, Turkey, Singapore, and other places. Some important solo exhibitions were held in 2016 at the Taipei 101 Tower Art Museum (Taiwan, China), in 2018 at the Miura Art Museum (Ehime, Japan), in 2018 at the Kaohsiung City Government Cultural Bureau/Taiwan Cultural Center (Taiwan, China), and in 2020 at the Setouchi Art Museum (Okayama, Japan) and other institutions.