Nearly 40 years ago, Junsaku Koizumi went into a self-imposed exile from nihonga painting circles as part of his endeavor to create a new world of nihonga. He decided to "learn from objects (of art) rather than from people."
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| "Turnip" by Junsaku Koizumi |
Now, at 77, the nihonga master is exhibiting a comprehensive compilation of 50 years of his work at Tokyo Station Gallery. Major works on display include detailed sansui-ga (landscape paintings) depicting the seashores of Sado and Miura and mountains such as Mount Bandai and Chokai, as well as still lifes of flowers and vegetables.
In April last year, he completed the ceiling painting "Unryu-zu," commemorating the 750th anniversary of Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, and at present is working on the ceiling painting that will be dedicated at Kyoto's Kenjiji Temple in 2002.
In addition to painting, Koizumi works in design, makes ceramics and writes essays.