智川（Chisen）

According to her mother, even before she could remember words, she was engrossed in drawing pictures on the floors and walls of her home during her early childhood. She continued to enjoy drawing, but as she grew older, her interests diversified. She pursued a law degree in university in Tokyo and has spent her life without formal education in any of art.

I hold a profound love for Japanese culture, such as Kabuki, Noh, Kyogen, and Bunraku. Furthermore, I have an unwavering passion for traditional Japanese painting and ink wash painting. I myself have learned and drawn ink painting for nearly ten years.

During my school, I pursued classical piano and singing in a choir. I took it upon myself to read children's picture books based on the Old Testament Bible multiple times, finding inspiration within their pages.

In later years, I came to value the ancient Japanese belief that sees the divine essence in everything. In Japanese Buddhism, humans are not regarded as exceptional beings, but rather as interconnected components of the natural realm. I embrace the idea that all living beings, regardless of their size, carry innate beauty. I hold a profound affection for the magnificence of nature.

Following a serious illness, she rediscovered her love for drawing and began learning ink wash painting in 2014. In January 2023, a sudden surge of colorful swirling image prompted her to attempt expressing it through art, leading her to start creating acrylic pieces. While sharing her artwork on social media, in June 2023, she received an invitation for an exhibition from galleries, marking the beginning of her career as a painter. Since then, her works have been exhibited in Tokyo, London, New York, Paris, and Madrid.



While she has never formally studied traditional Japanese painting techniques using “Nikawa” (glue), she heard that in this method, applying several layers of undercoating results in depth and richness in the final piece. Recalling this, she dilutes acrylic paints with water and applies multiple layers of undercoating during her creative process. Additionally, in certain instances nearing completion, she might layer the paint, aiming to achieve further depth and richness in her work.