Yosuke Ueno
Yosuke Ueno is a self-taught Japanese artist, working in the style of pop surrealism. Born in Japan in 1977, he has been creating his unique and colorful world since his early age, and as a result Ueno’s first solo exhibition was in 1994 in Yamaguchi, when he was just 16 years old.
Yosuke Ueno’s art is inspired by a combination of many elements - from traditional Japanese culture, Tokyo’s street fashion, to great artworks all over the world. As an art lover, he admires masterpieces from history of art by reproducing them in his own style.
The Japanese culture, including manga, anime and Buddhist statues, are the main influences in Yosuke’s works. His world is inhabited by thousands of original characters, which he created over a period of time. This multiplicity of characters in Ueno’s works draws fromShinto- the traditional Japanese system of spiritual beliefs, populated by millions of individual god figures.
Yosuke Ueno’s highly stylized and beautifully imaginative art takes the viewer on a strange and surreal adventure, to a world inhabited by weird and beautiful animals, characters and creatures. While creating, he starts his new piece without any detailed design. He allows his paintings to evolve intuitively, not knowing what the end result will be. As a process of discovery and a sort of therapy, he hopes the painting will complete itself, beyond his guidance and imagination.
Some of the reasons why Yosuke Ueno’s works stand out are interesting juxtapositions, hidden symbolism and recurring metaphors. His symbolic system builds an alternate reality, a tightly knit universe featuring a recurring cast of characters and repeated motifs.