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London

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  • Artist: Shisamu Iwase

Born in Osaka in 1981.
Influenced by a father who enjoyed painting and sculpture as a hobby, he began drawing at an early age.
In 1999, he began his career as an illustrator.
Influenced by lowbrow art and rock music, he worked on flyer designs for indie bands and apparel shops.
Around 2007, he self-studied various forms of popular art, including Japanese classical paintings, ukiyo-e, and signage and advertisements from the mid-Edo to Showa periods.
Using the ukiyo-e style as a foundation, he incorporates elements from classical calligraphy, manga, and contemporary art into his work.
His concept for his creations is “bringing the winds of the past into the present,” aiming to harmonize traditional painting styles with the modern era and explore new possibilities.
His past work spans a wide range, from store signage and corporate advertisements to traditional crafts designs, senshafuda illustrations, apparel design, and TV commercials.
In his artistic work, he is known for the “Ukiyo-e Salaryman Series,” which depicts modern society through the ukiyo-e style.

In 2018, he was responsible for the main visuals for the PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN × HIROFUMI KIYONAGA capsule collection, sold nationwide through EDIFICE.

In 2019, HARE presented its Spring/Summer 2020 collection at Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO, featuring the collaboration graphic “HARE × Ukiyoemon.”

Since 2019, he has been designing advertisements for iichikoUSA.

In 2020, as part of an adidas Japan project, he designed the first jerseys for the Toyota Verblitz, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, RICOH BlackRams, Suntory Sungoliath, and Kobelco Steelers participating in the JAPAN RUGBY TOP LEAGUE.

In 2022, he founded A DESIGN LAB, beginning activities aimed at the “Reconstruction of Tradition” in Japanese art.

達磨 Bodhidharma by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 達磨 Bodhidharma
金太郎 Kintaro by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 金太郎 Kintaro
朝比奈 Asahina by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 朝比奈 Asahina
阿亀 Agame by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 阿亀 Agame
我慢図 by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 我慢図
  • Suihi paint (dyed mud), Sumi ink on Mino-washi
    43.7 x 34 cm
武田信玄 by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 武田信玄
  • Suihi paint (dyed mud), Sumi ink on Mino-washi
    37 x 29.6 cm
花魁と菊花 by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 花魁と菊花
  • Suihi paint (dyed mud), Sumi ink on Mino-washi
    35 x 28 cm
蛸図 by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 蛸図
  • Suihi paint (dyed mud), Sumi ink on Mino-washi
    28.6 x 49 cm
駆込跋扈図 Rush onto a train by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 駆込跋扈図 Rush onto a train
  • Suihi paint (dyed mud), Sumi ink on Mino-washi
    36.8 x 25.9 cm
漢、背デ語ル by Shisamu Iwase
  • Shisamu Iwase
  • 漢、背デ語ル
  • Suihi paint (dyed mud), Sumi ink on Mino-washi
    39.1 x 27.1 cm
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