Artist: Shoichi Okumura

Shoichi Okumura is an artist known for mixed media and illustration. Okumura's art is inspired by Song dynasty landscapes and take influences from Chinese artistic concepts. A lot of Okumura's art is painted onto wilk which gives it the light and soft texture. Okumura has exhibited in many galleries, typically in Tokyo, including numerous solo exhibitions from 2014 to the present.

Okumura's profile can be found at this link.

Here is a snippet of Okumura's CV:

Solo Exhibitions:

2020  -Paradise Fiction- (Tokyo)

2019  -逍遥花園- / -Strolling The Chinese Garden- (Tokyo)

2018  -仙界模様- / -Vibe of The Hermit world- 

2018  -園林漫遊- / -Trip to The Chinese Garden- (Taipei) 

2017  -洞天風味- / -Flavor of Chinese Utopia in Grotto- (Tokyo)

2016  -桃源小旅行- / -Tao Yuan Short Trip- (Tokyo)

2015  -山水気分Vol.2- / -Feel of Chinese Landscape Vol.2- (Tokyo)

2014  -山水気分- / -Feel of Chinese Landscape- (Tokyo)

Reaction to Okumura's Artwork:

Artwork: Jet Ski, 73 x 61 cm, 2020

I love this artwork and it has a few elements that I aim to include more in my art. The elements of this piece are set in front of a solid background which gives a dreamy feeling to the painting. This is a common characteristic in Okumura's artwork and it is something that I would like to explore in my own work.

Artwork: Cosmic Touring, 91 x 73 cm, 2021

This piece shows a lot of the same characteristics as the last one but I chose to show this one because it represents another element of Okumura's art that I appreciate. I lot of the different elements seems arbitrary and not overtly related to one another but when they are all combined into the artwork a sense of unity is achieved. I feel like this is something I like to do in my art and want to explore further because I respond to it in others' artworks.

Here is an article from Hi Fructose about Okumura's art. I found it interesting learning about the progression of Okumura's artwork from using Chinese plants that have a specific representation to incorporating plants from around the globe to expand the scope. I love the incorporation of different plants and other natural elements in Okurmura's artwork.

Overall, Okumura is a successful artist who exhibits frequently. I admire the texture that is created by the paint on the silk and the general subjects incorporated in his artwork.