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In Depth Chat With Koushin Yamada – A Talented Artist From Japan Who Dedicates His Life To Creating Mesmerising And Otherworldly Art

With a passion like none, Koushin Yamada from Japan has made a name for himself in the world of art. After dedicating his life to art, he has found peace in creating work that satisfies himself, no one and nothing else. He’s always searching for something different and shows us that different can be better instead of ย ‘following the crowd.’

ๆ—ฅๆœฌใฎใƒ•ใ‚กใ‚คใƒณใ‚ขใƒผใƒ†ใ‚ฃใ‚นใƒˆๅฑฑ็”ฐ่€•่‡ฃใฏใ€ใŸใใ„็จ€ใชใ‚‹ๆƒ…็†ฑใงใ€ไธ–็•Œใฎใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆ็•Œใซๅใ‚’ใชใ—ใŸ่Šธ่ก“ๅฎถใงใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚ๅฝผใฏใ€็”Ÿๆดปใ‚’ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใซๆงใ’ใ€ไฝ•ใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ‚‚่‡ชๅˆ†่‡ช่บซใŒๆบ€่ถณๅ‡บๆฅใ—ใ€่‡ชๅˆ†ใฎๅฟƒใ‚’็™’ใ™ใ“ใจใŒๅ‡บๆฅใ‚‹ไฝœๅ“ใ‚’ๅ‰ตไฝœใ—็ถšใ‘ใฆใใŸใ€‚ใ„ใคใ‚‚ใ€ๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ใ‚‚ใฎใ‚’ๆŽขๆฑ‚ใ—็ถšใ‘ใ‚‹ๅฑฑ็”ฐ่€•่‡ฃใ€‚ๅฝผใฎไฝœๅ“ใฏใ€ๅคง่ก†ใซ่ฟŽๅˆใ—ใ€ๆ—ขๅญ˜ใฎใ‚‚ใฎใ‚’่ฟฝใ„ๆฑ‚ใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ€ไฝ•ใ‹ใ€ๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ใ‚‚ใฎใ‚’่ฆ‹ใคใ‘ใ‚‹ๆ–นใŒ้ข็™ฝใ„ใ“ใจใ‚’ใ€่ฆ‹ใ‚‹ไบบใซๆ€ใ„่ตทใ“ใ•ใ›ใฆใใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ€‚ใƒซใƒผใƒ„ใƒปใ‚ขใƒณใƒ‰ใƒปใƒฌใ‚ธใƒฃใƒผใฏใ€่€•่‡ฃใฎไฝœๅ“ใ€ใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใƒ”ใƒฌใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใ€็”Ÿๆดปใซๅ…ฑๆ„Ÿใ—ใ€ๅฝผใซใ‚คใƒณใ‚ฟใƒ“ใƒฅใƒผใ—ใŸใ€‚ย 

Roots and Leisure talks with the hyper-creative Japanese artist Koushin Yamada from Tokyo. Read on to know about his life, his art and his source of inspiration for his wacky pieces! [Japanese text and translation by Koushin Yamada and Sachiko Imamura D’Souza.]

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada

Koushin Yamada is a hyper-creative artist from Japan

  • Konichiwa Koushin San! Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and your background.

  • ใ“ใ‚“ใซใกใ‚ใ€่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใ€‚ใพใšใ€่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใ”่‡ช่บซใซใคใ„ใฆใ€ใฉใฎๆง˜ใชๅ‰ตไฝœๆดปๅ‹•ใ‚’ใ•ใ‚ŒใฆใใŸใ‹ใ€ใพใŸใ€็”Ÿใ„็ซ‹ใกใซใคใ„ใฆใ€็ฐกๅ˜ใซๆ•™ใˆใฆไธ‹ใ•ใ„ใ€‚

Konichiwa! My name is Koushin Yamada. I am 33 years old and was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Growing up, my family always struggled both financially and physically. My father, who was a clay model artist and art dealer, left my family when I was still a teenager. I didn’t particularly have many close friends and spent a lot of time alone. I dropped out of high school and started working when I was 15.

“All credit is due to my mother’s unconditional support that my life did not end differently. Those years of struggle made me grow and foster different values compared to those of others. I decided very early on to value my life and give it meaning through art. Today, I am married to a Swedish woman and blessed with few, but close friends, and a hunger for self-expression. I am always absorbed in creative activities.”

็งใฎๅๅ‰ใฏๅฑฑ็”ฐ่€•่‡ฃใจใ„ใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚็พๅœจ33ๆญณใ€ๆ—ฅๆœฌใฎๆฑไบฌใง็”Ÿใพใ‚Œ่‚ฒใกใพใ—ใŸใ€‚็งใฎ่‚ฒใฃใŸๅฎถๅบญใฏๆฑบใ—ใฆ่ฃ•็ฆใงใฏใชใใ€่‰ฒใ€…ใจๅ•้กŒใ‚‚ใ‚ใ‚Š็งใฏ15ๆญณใ‹ใ‚‰ๅƒใๅง‹ใ‚ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚้€ ๅฝขไฝœๅฎถใงใ‚ใ‚Šใ€็”ปๅ•†ใงใ‚‚ใ‚ใฃใŸ็ˆถใฏ็งใŒ10ไปฃๅŠใฐใฎ้ ƒใซๅฎถๆ—ใฎๅ…ƒใ‚’ๅŽปใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ไปฅๆฅ็งใฏๅ‹้”ใ‚‚ใ„ใชใๅญค็‹ฌใจๅ‘ใๅˆใ†ๆ™‚้–“ใ‚’ๅคšใ้Žใ”ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚็งใŒ้“ใ‚’่ธใฟๅค–ใ•ใชใ‹ใฃใŸใฎใฏๅ‰ๅคงใชๆฏใฎใŠใ‹ใ’ใงใ‚‚ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ใใ—ใฆไธ€ไบบใผใฃใกใฎๆ™‚้–“ใฏ็งใ‚’ไป–ไบบใจใฏ้•ใ†ไพกๅ€ค่ฆณใงๅคงใใๆˆ้•ทใ•ใ›ใฆใใ‚Œใพใ—ใŸใ€‚็พๅœจ็งใซใฏใ‚นใ‚ฆใ‚งใƒผใƒ‡ใƒณไบบใฎๅฆปใŒใŠใ‚Šใ€ๆ•ฐไบบใฎไปฒ้–“ใซใ‚‚ๆตใพใ‚Œใฆใ„ใพใ™ใŒ่‡ชๅทฑ่กจ็พใซ้ฃขใˆใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚้ŽๅŽปใฎ็งใ‚’ๆธ…็ฎ—ใ™ใ‚‹ใ‹ใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใซๅ‰ตไฝœๆดปๅ‹•ใซๆฒก้ ญใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚

  • Introduce us to your work. What got you started as an artist?

  • ่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใฎใ“ใ‚Œใพใงใฎๅ‰ตไฝœๆดปๅ‹•ใซใคใ„ใฆใ€ใ‚‚ใ†ๅฐ‘ใ—่ฉณใ—ใ็Ÿฅใ‚ŠใŸใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚ไฝ•ใŒใ‚ญใƒƒใ‚ซใ‚ฑใงใ€่Šธ่ก“ๅฎถใซใชใ‚ใ†ใจๆ€ใ‚ใ‚ŒใŸใฎใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

My work is mainly two-dimensional, consisting of various forms of paintings on a plain surface. In addition, I also create origami – which is traditional Japanese figures of folded paper – on which I paint and then use for making various installations, as well as on paintings. I have always sought to draw the truth of the world, as it is seen through my eyes with a touch of my own imagination and fictional elements.

Although I originally started as a manga artist, I began to paint as I wanted to expand my range. At that time, I felt like I had plunged into the vast world of art for the first time. I also attended a vocational college for a while, but would for the most part label myself a self-taught artist. Since my interest in art started with drawing cartoons, I often draw my original characters and still thoroughly enjoy the process of it.

็ตตใฎๅ…ท็ญ‰ใ‚’ไฝฟใฃใŸๅนณ้ข็”ปใ‚„ๆŠ˜ใ‚Š็ด™ใ‚’ๆ”ฏๆŒไฝ“ใจใ—ใŸใƒšใ‚คใƒณใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒณใ‚ฐใŒไธปใช็งใฎไฝœๅ“ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ใใพใง็งใฎ็›ฎใ‚’้€šใ—ใฆ่ฆ‹ใŸ็œŸๅฎŸใฎไธ–็•Œใจ็งใŒๅฝฑ้Ÿฟใ‚’ๅ—ใ‘ใฆใใŸใƒ•ใ‚ฃใ‚ฏใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใฎใ‚คใƒกใƒผใ‚ธใ‚’้‡ใญใฆๆใใพใ™ใ€‚็งใฏๅ…ƒใ€…ๆผซ็”ปใ‚’ๆใ„ใฆใ„ใŸใฎใงใ™ใŒใ€่กจ็พใฎๅน…ใ‚’ๅบƒใ’ใ‚ˆใ†ใจๆ€ใ„ใƒšใ‚คใƒณใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒณใ‚ฐใ‚’ๅง‹ใ‚ใŸใจใ“ใ‚ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใฎไธ–็•Œใธใฎใ‚ใ‚Š่พผใ‚“ใงใ—ใพใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ไธ€ๆ™‚ๆœŸๅฐ‚้–€ๅญฆๆ กใซใ‚‚้€šใฃใฆใฟใพใ—ใŸใŒใ€ใปใจใ‚“ใฉใฏ็‹ฌๅญฆใงๅญฆใณใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ‚„ใฏใ‚Šๆผซ็”ปใ‹ใ‚‰ๅง‹ใ‚ใŸใ›ใ„ใ‹ใ€ใ‚ญใƒฃใƒฉใ‚ฏใ‚ฟใƒผใ‚’ๆใไบ‹ใŒๅคšใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚

Origami Work by Koushin Yamada.

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada

Origami Work by Koushin Yamada.

  • What is your motivation and inspiration to create art as a full-time profession?

  • ใƒ—ใƒญใฎใ‚ขใƒผใƒ†ใ‚ฃใ‚นใƒˆใจใ—ใฆไฝœๅ“ใ‚’ๅฎŒๆˆใ™ใ‚‹ใŸใ‚ใฎๅŽŸๅ‹•ๅŠ›ใ‚„ใ‚ฏใƒชใ‚จใ‚คใƒˆใ™ใ‚‹ใŸใ‚ใฎใ‚„ใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใƒ”ใƒฌใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใฏไฝ•ใงใ™ใ‹

During my childhood, I was often praised when drawing something and this made me believe that I possessed a talent for art. I slowly began to realize that I had already withdrawn from the road that ordinary people in Japan follow and I was not meant to be like everyone else. Driven by a different agenda, I made the decision to dedicate my life to art. I will do this till the day I die.

“My motivation to create does not stem from any wish to become rich or successful. Rather, I find myself driven by the will to produce art that can satisfy myself. Even now I think that I am very lucky to be driven by such guidelines and intrinsic motivations… I do not have to search for a purpose to live as it is already deeply rooted within myself.”

ๅนผๅฐ‘ๆœŸใซ่ฝๆ›ธใใ‚’่ค’ใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚ŒใŸไบ‹ใง่‡ชๅˆ†ใซใฏๆ‰่ƒฝใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใจๆ€ใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใใ‚ŒใŒใจใ‚“ใ ๅ‹˜้•ใ„ใ ใจๆฐ—ไป˜ใ„ใŸๆ™‚ใซใฏ้€€่ทฏใ‚’็ตถใฃใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใฎใงใ€็งใฏๆญปใฌใพใงใ‚„ใ‚ŠๆŠœใใจใ„ใ†ๅผทใ„ๆ„ๅฟ—ใง็ถšใ‘ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ใใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใซ็”Ÿใใ‚‹ๆŒ‡้‡ใ‚’ๆŒใฆใŸไบ‹ใฏใจใฆใ‚‚้‹ใŒ่‰ฏใ„ใจๆ€ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚็งใฎๆผฒใ‚‹ๅ‰ตไฝœๆ„ๆฌฒใฏ่‡ชๅˆ†ใŒๆบ€่ถณใงใใ‚‹ไฝœๅ“ใ‚’็”ฃใฟๅ‡บใ—ใŸใ„ใจใ„ใ†ไธ€ๅฟƒใงใ‚ใ‚Šใ€ใ‚ตใ‚ฏใ‚ปใ‚นใƒˆใƒผใƒชใƒผใจใฏๅˆฅใฎใƒ™ใ‚ฏใƒˆใƒซใซใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใŒใ€ๅฎถๆ—ใฎ็‚บใซๅฐ‘ใ—ใงใ‚‚ๅฃฒใ‚ŒใŸใ„ใจใ„ใ†ๆ€ใ„ใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚

Homage to Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu couchรฉ. Made with oil andย acrylic colors on board by Koushin Yamada.

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada

Homage to Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu couchรฉ. Made with oil andย acrylic colors on board by Koushin Yamada.

  • How have your roots influenced your work or working style?

  • ่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใฎ็”Ÿใ„็ซ‹ใกใ‚„ๅญไพ›ใฎๆ™‚ใ‹ใ‚‰ใฎ็”Ÿๆดป็’ฐๅขƒใฏใ€่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใฎไฝœๅ“ใ‚„่Šธ่ก“ใ‚นใ‚ฟใ‚คใƒซใซใฉใฎๆง˜ใชๅฝฑ้Ÿฟใ‚’ใ‚ใŸใˆใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจๆ€ใ‚ใ‚Œใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

Even though I am not an outlaw, I am strongly aware of the fact that my path of life is seen by many Japanese people as deviant and defying the social order and normative system. This made me want to polish my personality and originality, educate myself and stick to my different way of life, rather than following the crowd. This has also contributed to the uniqueness of my artwork.

I slowly grew a habit of searching for various forms of knowledge and realized that there was so much to be learned. That has gradually led me to see the world from a different angle. The knowledge I have accumulated is projected in my art and various forms of research became a major theme of my pieces. Sometimes this includes things or ideas which seem a little crazy, but by brushing it with my ideas, these are tailored into art.

“My creativity and inspiration isย also strongly influenced by another aspect of my upbringing. I always liked and wished to collect various things – such as music CDs, movies, cartoons, toys, clothes and knick-knacks – but my family had neither the money to buy those things for me, nor did we have much space to store these. I thus saved and collected images of all these things I liked on my personal computer so I could look at them anytime. This soon became a habit and I have slowly created a library of all those these articles inside my head.”

You could say these images that trigger my creativity have been imprinted on my mind. When my desire to own these things dissipated, I was left with images that served as an important role of aย creative library within my mind.

็Šฏ็ฝชๆญดใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‚ใ‘ใงใฏใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ›ใ‚“ใŒใ€ไธ–้–“ใฎใฏใฟๅ‡บใ—่€…ใงใ‚ใฃใŸ็งใฏใใ‚Œใ‚’ๅผทใ่‡ช่ฆšใ—ใฆใ„ใŸใฎใงใ€ใใฎไป–ๅคงๅ‹ขใซ่ฟŽๅˆใ™ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ‚‚ใ€ๅ€‹ใ‚’็ฃจใใ“ใจใซใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใใ‚Œใฏไฝœๅ“ใฎใ‚ชใƒชใ‚ธใƒŠใƒชใƒ†ใ‚ฃใซ็น‹ใŒใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ใพใŸ็งใฏๅŒไธ–ไปฃใฎไบบ้–“ใŒ้Šใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‹้–“ใซใฒใŸใ™ใ‚‰่‰ฒใ€…ใช็Ÿฅ่ญ˜ใ‚’่“„ใˆใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใใ‚Œใฏ็™–ใซใชใ‚Šใ€ๆฌก็ฌฌใซใ“ใฎไธ–็•ŒใŒ้•ใฃใŸ่ง’ๅบฆใง่ฆ‹ใˆใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใซใชใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸใ€‚็งใŒ่ชฟในใฆๆฐ—ไป˜ใ„ใŸไบ‹ใฏไฝœๅ“ใฎใƒ†ใƒผใƒžใจใ—ใฆๆŠ•ๅฝฑใ•ใ‚Œใพใ™ใ€‚็ชๆ‹ๅญใ‚‚็„กใ„ไบ‹ใ‚‚ๅซใพใ‚Œใพใ™ใŒใ€ใใ‚Œใ‚’ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใซไป•็ซ‹ใฆใ‚‹ใฎใฏไบบ็”Ÿใง็ฃจใ„ใฆใใŸๆ„Ÿๆ€งใซใ‚ˆใ‚‹ใ‚‚ใฎใงใ™ใ€‚็งใฏ้Ÿณๆฅฝใ€ๆ˜ ็”ปใ€ๆผซ็”ปใ€็Žฉๅ…ทใ€ๆœใ€ใ‚ขใƒณใƒ†ใƒชใ‚ขใชใฉๆง˜ใ€…ใช็‰ฉใŒๅฅฝใใงๆ˜”ใฏใ‚ณใƒฌใ‚ฏใ‚ทใƒงใƒณ้ก˜ๆœ›ใŒใ‚ใฃใŸใฎใงใ™ใŒใ€่ฒทใ†ใŠ้‡‘ใ‚‚็ฝฎใใ‚นใƒšใƒผใ‚นใ‚‚็„กใ„ใฎใงใƒ‘ใ‚ฝใ‚ณใƒณใซใ‚คใƒกใƒผใ‚ธใฎใฟใ‚’ไฟๅญ˜ใ€ใ‚ใ‚‹ใ„ใฏใฒใŸใ™ใ‚‰้ ญใฎไธญใซใ‚คใƒกใƒผใ‚ธใ‚’ๅˆทใ‚Š่พผใ‚€ใจใ„ใ†ๆ—ฅใ€…ใ‚’้Žใ”ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใใ‚Œใ‚‰ใฏ็งใŒใ‚ฏใƒชใ‚จใ‚คใ‚ฟใƒผใจใชใ‚‹ๆ™‚ใ€ใ™ใงใซๆฌฒใ—ใ„็‰ฉใงใฏใชใใชใ‚Šใ€ใƒ‡ใ‚ถใ‚คใƒณใฎใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใƒ”ใƒฌใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใจใ—ใฆๅฝน็ซ‹ใคใฎใงใ™ใ€‚

Origami Paper Toy by Koushin Yamada.

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

Origami Paper Toy by Koushin Yamada.

Origami Butterful Owl by Koushin Yamada

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

Origami Butterful Owl by Koushin Yamada

  • Would you say you’re an artist as a full-time profession?

  • ใ”่‡ช่บซใฎใ“ใจใ‚’ใ€ใƒ•ใƒซใ‚ฟใ‚คใƒ ใฎ่ทๆฅญใจใ—ใฆใฎ่Šธ่ก“ๅฎถใจใŠ่€ƒใˆใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

Whatever I am up to, I am always thinking about art. Having to spend my time on activities such as eating or sleeping, even if it’s inescapable, makes me feel like I am wasting precious time that I could be spending on art.

“Creating art is my full-time job and indulging in other pleasures leaves a feeling of guilt. I feel that life is too short to take time off from art.”

ไฝ•ใ‚’ใ—ใฆใ„ใฆใ‚‚ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใฎไบ‹ใ‚’่€ƒใˆใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚้ฃŸไบ‹ใ‚„็ก็œ ใŒ้ฌฑ้™ถใ—ใๆ€ใˆใ‚‹ใปใฉใงใ™ใ€‚ไป–ใฎใ“ใจใ‚’ใ—ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ๆ™‚ใฏ่‡ชๅˆ†ใซ็ฝชๆ‚ชๆ„Ÿใ‚’่ฆšใˆใพใ™ใ€‚ๆบ€่ถณใฎใ„ใไฝœๅ“ใŒๅ‡บๆฅใฆใ‚‚ใ„ใชใ„ใฎใซไผ‘ใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‰ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใปใฉไบบ็”Ÿใฏ้•ทใใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚

  • What’s your creative philosophy? What inspires you to create?

  • ่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใฎๅ‰ตไฝœๅ“ฒๅญฆใฏไฝ•ใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚ไฝ•ใŒใ€ไฝœๅ“ใ‚’ๅ‰ตไฝœใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹ๆ™‚ใฎใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใƒ”ใƒฌใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใจใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใฎใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

Depending on how you see it, everything in this world can be art. I believe that having intellectual curiosity is the most important thing. It helps with discovering and capturing inspiration from everywhere and anything we come across in our daily lives. My own inspiration originates from various sources, such as culture, nature and history. In addition, I also try expressing my passion for supernatural phenomena as well as the worldโ€™s mysteries and secrets through my work.

ๆ‰ใˆๆ–นๆฌก็ฌฌใงใ“ใฎไธ–็•Œใฎๅ…จใฆใฏใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใซใชใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚็Ÿฅ็š„ๅฅฝๅฅ‡ๅฟƒใ‚’ๆŒใคใ“ใจใŒไธ€็•ชๅคงไบ‹ใ ใจ่€ƒใˆใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚็Ÿฅ็š„ๅฅฝๅฅ‡ๅฟƒใŒใ‚ใ‚Œใฐๆ—ฅใ€…ใฎ็”Ÿๆดปใฎใ‚ใกใ‚‰ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใงใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใƒ”ใƒฌใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใ‚’ใ‚ญใƒฃใƒƒใƒใงใใพใ™ใ€‚ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจใ—ใŸ็™บ่ฆ‹ใ‚„ๆ€ใ„ใคใใ‚’ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใจใ—ใฆ็™บ่กจใ—ใฆใฟใŸใ‚Šใ‚‚ใ™ใ‚‹ใ‚ใ‘ใงใ™ใ€‚

Acrylic on board. Japanese horror x Scifi by Koushin Yamada

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

Acrylic on board. Japanese horror x Scifi by Koushin Yamada

The Sun by Koushin Yamada.

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada

The Sun by Koushin Yamada

Adventure of the kabuki- the turtleย by Koushin Yamada

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

Adventure of the kabuki- the turtleย by Koushin Yamada

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

Adventure of the kabuki- the turtleย by Koushin Yamada

  • What do you hope people take away from your art?

  • ่€•่‡ฃใ•ใ‚“ใฎไฝœๅ“ใ‚’่ฆ‹ใŸไบบใ€…ใŒใ€ใฉใฎๆง˜ใซๆ„Ÿใ—ใฆๆฌฒใ—ใ„ใจใŠ่€ƒใˆใงใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

I do not expect, nor hope anything in particular. My belief is that art is supposed to be personal, that people are supposed to be egotistic in regards to what we like or dislike.

“People on the same wavelength as me might appreciate my art, and those who are not might hate it. Even someone who dislikes my work would in some way have been emotionally affected by it. In other words, even though my art contains several messages and ideas, all I hope to do is to spark some kind of emotional or creative reaction within the beholder. It would be great if my art could stimulate someoneโ€™s intellectual curiosity.”

็งใฏ็‰นใซไฝ•ใ‚‚ๆœŸๅพ…ใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใฏๅ€‹ไบบ็š„ใงใ‚จใ‚ดใ‚คใ‚นใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒƒใ‚ฏใชใ‚‚ใฎใ ใจ่€ƒใˆใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใฎใงใ€ๆณข้•ทใŒๅˆใ†ไบบใฏๆฐ—ใซๅ…ฅใฃใฆใใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ ใ‚ใ†ใ—ใ€ใใ†ใงใชใ„ไบบใฏใใ‚Œใง็ต‚ใ‚ใ‚Šใงใ™ใ€‚ใŸใ ใ€ๅซŒใ‚ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใฎใฏๅคงๆญ“่ฟŽใงใ™ใ€‚ใพใ‚‹ใง่ˆˆๅ‘ณใŒ็„กใ‘ใ‚Œใฐ่…นใŒ็ซ‹ใกใ‚‚ใ—ใพใ›ใ‚“ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ€‚็ตๆžœใจใ—ใฆ่ชฐใ‹ใฎ็Ÿฅ็š„ๅฅฝๅฅ‡ๅฟƒใ‚’ๅˆบๆฟ€ใงใใŸใชใ‚‰ไฝœๅฎถใจใ—ใฆใฏ่‰ฏใ„ใ“ใจใงใ™ใ€‚

  • Tell us about your latest art piece that you’ve been working on.

  • ็พๅœจๅ‰ตไฝœไธญใฎไฝœๅ“ใซใคใ„ใฆใ‚‚ใ€ๅฐ‘ใ—ๆ•™ใˆใฆไธ‹ใ•ใ„ใ€‚ใฉใฎๆง˜ใชใƒ—ใƒญใ‚ธใ‚งใ‚ฏใƒˆใซๆบใ‚ใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‰ใฃใ—ใ‚ƒใ„ใพใ™ใ‹ใ€‚

My latest work is a painting that will be part of a show – โ€œExhibition Design Art of Asian Regionality and Climate in Phnom Penh 2018โ€ in Cambodia in mid-September. Iย will post my work on social media after the event. This particular piece revolves around the Mandala, which was originally a sanctuary in ancient India, and not the 2-dimensional art creation that most might recognize today. The three-dimensionalย  Mandala dome-construction was similar to a stupa (ie, the grave of Buddha and his disciples) and was created to connect heaven and Earth.

็งใฎๆœ€ๆ–ฐใฎไฝœๅ“ใฏใ€9ๆœˆไธญๆ—ฌใซใ‚ซใƒณใƒœใ‚ธใ‚ขใง้–‹ๅ‚ฌใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ‚ขใ‚ธใ‚ขใƒ‡ใ‚ถใ‚คใƒณใ‚จใ‚ญใ‚ทใƒ“ใ‚ธใƒงใƒณใซๅ‡บๅฑ•ใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ‚ขใ‚ฏใƒชใƒซ็”ปใงใ™ใ€‚ใใ‚Œไปฅ้™ใฏ็งใฎใ‚ฝใƒผใ‚ทใƒฃใƒซใƒกใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใ‚ขใซๆŽฒ่ผ‰ใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹ไบˆๅฎšใงใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใฎไฝœๅ“ใฏไปŠๆ—ฅ็Ÿฅใ‚‰ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใƒžใƒณใƒ€ใƒฉๅ›ณใ‚’ๅคไปฃใ‚คใƒณใƒ‰ใฎ่–ๅŸŸใงใ‚ใฃใŸๆœฌๆฅใฎไธ‰ๆฌกๅ…ƒ็ฉบ้–“็š„ใƒžใƒณใƒ€ใƒฉใจใ—ใฆ่กจ็พใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ๅก”ใ‚’ไธญๅฟƒใซๆฎใˆใŸใƒ‰ใƒผใƒ ๅž‹ใฎๅปบ็ฏ‰ๆง˜ๅผใฏใ€ไป่ˆŽๅˆฉๅก”(ใ‚นใƒˆใ‚ฅใƒผใƒ‘)ใจๅ…ฑ้€šใ—ใ€ๅคฉใจๅœฐใ‚’็ตใถๅฎ‡ๅฎ™็ฉบ้–“ใ‚’ๆง‹ๆˆใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

“Cosmic Castle”(2018) | Acrylic on paper byย Koushin Yamada

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

“Cosmic Castle”(2018) | Acrylic on paper byย Koushin Yamada

My latest piece investigates the essence of the Kalachakra Mandala found in esoteric Buddhist teachings which basically associates its origin and source of inspiration to Vimฤna. Flying fortresses belonging to the gods, such as the Vimฤna, appear over again in the ancient Indian history, and in countless other Asian legends and literature.

“This work interprets architecture, religious elements and history unique to the continent. In addition, ancient wisdom and traditions are immeasurable treasures inherited through time, and this piece connects the dots throughout Asia. By doing so, it also connects cultures, showing that Asian countries, including Japan, in spite of being unique also share a similar history. Being able to portray this avant-garde theme through art inspires a wide range of imagination.”

ใ•ใ‚‰ใซ็งใฎๆœ€ๆ–ฐใฎไฝœๅ“ใฏใƒขใƒใƒผใƒ•ใจใชใฃใŸๅฏ†ๆ•™ใฎๅฅฅ็พฉใ‚ซใƒผใƒฉใƒใƒฃใ‚ฏใƒฉใƒปใƒžใƒณใƒ€ใƒฉใฎๆบๆตใ‚’่ชฟๆŸปใ—ใ€ใƒดใ‚ฃใƒžใƒŠใซใใฎ่ตทๆบใจใ‚คใƒณใ‚นใƒ”ใƒฌใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใฎๆบๆตใ‚’้–ข้€ฃไป˜ใ‘ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ ใƒดใ‚ฃใƒžใƒŠใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใช็ฅžใ€…ใฎ้ฃ›่กŒ่ฆๅกžใฏใ€ๅคไปฃใ‚คใƒณใƒ‰ใฎ็ฅž่ฉฑใ‚„ๆ•ฐใ€…ใฎใ‚ขใ‚ธใ‚ขใฎไผ่ชฌใ‚„ๆ–‡็Œฎใซๅบฆใ€…็™ปๅ ดใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใฎไฝœๅ“ใงใฏใ‚ขใ‚ธใ‚ข็‰นๆœ‰ใฎๅปบ็ฏ‰ๆง˜ๅผใ€ๅฎ—ๆ•™่ฆณใ€ๆญดๅฒใ‚’็งใชใ‚Šใซ่งฃ้‡ˆใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ๅคไปฃใฎ็Ÿฅๆตใจไผ็ตฑใฏใ€ๆ™‚ไปฃใ‚’้€šใ˜ใฆ็ถ™ๆ‰ฟใ•ใ‚ŒใŸ่จˆใ‚Š็Ÿฅใ‚Œใชใ„่ฒก็”ฃใงใ‚ใ‚Šใ€ใ“ใฎไฝœๅ“ใฏใ‚ขใ‚ธใ‚ขใฎ็‚นใจ็‚นใ‚’็ตใถ็ทšใฎ่ฆ็ด ใ‚‚ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ขใƒผใƒˆใ‚’้€šใ—ใฆใ“ใฎๅ‰่ก›็š„ใช่งฃ้‡ˆใ‚’ๆใใ“ใจใฏๆƒณๅƒๅŠ›ใฎๆ‹กๅผตใ‚’ๅฟ…่ฆใจใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚

Ultra two by Koushin Yamada.

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada

Ultra two by Koushin Yamada.

Cool Grandma by Koushin Yamada

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada_Japan

Cool Grandma by Koushin Yamada

 

To see more of Koushin Yamada’s mesmerizing work, make sure you follow him onย Instagram

Rootsandleisure_Koushin Yamada

Butterflied by Koushin Yamada.

 

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