Moonlit Night 〈Sei〉
TADANORI YOSHIMOTO
Illuminated by the bright moonlight, the bamboo grove appears to float. The interplay of moonlight and bamboo light… I imagined such a scene as I put pen to paper.
Bamboo is also known as “blue gentleman” or “blue lord.”
Ancient poets seemed to associate it with the fresh vitality that pierces the sky, the overflowing life force, and the image of flight.
In China, bamboo has long been considered one of the Four Gentlemen, along with orchids, plum blossoms, and chrysanthemums. However, the bamboo grove viewed from afar is full of emotion and never ceases to evoke nostalgia in the Japanese.
Tadanori Yoshimoto’s Kasenga
The term “kasenga” is a word coined by Yoshimoto.
It refers to paintings created using mixed media, combining various types of paint, and since they are neither Japanese nor Western paintings, he has named his works as such.
As a genre, it falls under “contemporary art.” Yoshimoto’s paintings are characterized by his attention to the texture and feel of the paper, as well as his use of dyed colors, creating a sense of “healing and moisture.”
As a fan maker, Yoshimoto has always said, “Fans reflect the Japanese view of nature and sense of beauty.” The “Kasen-ga” series was created with this philosophy in mind. His works, brimming with poetic charm, are colored by his unique aesthetic sensibility and evoke a nostalgic atmosphere.
Additionally, as a novelist, Yoshimoto often states, “Art should not be something complicated; it should be something positive that heals, encourages, and inspires people using simple, accessible language.” This artistic philosophy is the very lifeblood of Yoshimoto’s art.
TADANORI YOSHIMOTO, artist bio
TADANORI YOSHIMOTO
Fan artist, writer
Born in Hiroshima in 1947. After working as an art magazine editor, he became interested in fan design while working as an art coordinator, and held his first solo exhibition titled “Summer Fan Winter Fan: Japanese Haute Couture” at Shirokanedai, Tokyo in 2002.In 2005, he held the “Exhibition of Fans and Flower Fan Paintings” at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihonbashi, and since then, he has held a series of solo exhibitions at the same store every year until 2020.
In 2010, he published the novel “Hanakage” (Poplar Publishing Co., Ltd.), in which he glossily depicts the hearts of men and women interweaving against the backdrop of the changing seasons.In 2013, he held a collaborative exhibition with Akimitu Tomonaga (plastic artist) and Kazuhiro Oide (fashion producer).In June 2002, she held a 10th anniversary exhibition at Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihonbashi, a solo exhibition at Mandarin Gallery in Singapore in October, and a collaborative exhibition of art, literature, and music at Chinzan-so Hotel in Tokyo in November.In November 2003, he held the “Love, Wind, and Dreams” exhibition at Iwasou, a traditional Japanese inn in Miyajima; in April 2006, he gave a lecture and held an exhibition at Shokakuji Temple in Wajima to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Noto earthquake disaster; in July, he held the “Miniature Flower Fan Painting Exhibition” in Singapore; in 2009, he published a poetry and painting collection “Haute couture de Wa ~How to be a Japanese Artist. Haute couture de Wa – The World of Tadanori Yoshimoto” was published in 2009.His creative activities, backed by his poetic sensibility, express a peaceful world of “healing and enrichment,” and cover a wide range of fields from art to literature.Currently serves as a board member of Adachi Museum of Art, Shimane, Japan.