Asano Katsumi "Frightening Beauty"

It's been 35 years since my debut, a significant milestone. Looking back on this journey, I believe that the essential aspects have remained unchanged. When it comes to creating art, my visual preferences are my foundation. Above all, what I "love" takes precedence. From there, images and themes unfold, often described as fantastical, but at its core, I consider it to be lyricism and lyricism alone. I sometimes refer to it as "sturdy lyricism." From this point, the world of "beauty" as I perceive it expands.

In the case of etchings, I take a needle in hand and simply make dots. If it's a pencil, I steadily and gradually progress, bit by bit. When I started with oil painting, I thought I could paint with a bit more freedom, but I still find myself layering with a thin brush repeatedly. I've come to accept that I'll keep drawing until I'm satisfied; it's just my nature. So, I might as well take all the time I need to perfect the "beauty" I have in mind. If I could capture something like "frightening beauty," that would be my greatest wish.

Asano Katsumi - Brief Biography


Born in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.
1984-1988: Studied etching at Atelier Convex in Nishinomiya City.
1991-2016: Held annual etching exhibitions at Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro, Gallery Tomo (Ginza), Nanten-en Gallery (Kobe), Art Land Gallery (Marugame), among others.
From 2015, apprenticed under Shuji Tateishi, learning oil painting mixed techniques.
2021: Held first solo exhibition featuring oil painting mixed techniques and pencil drawings at Aoki Gallery (Ginza).

Participated in numerous group exhibitions both domestically and internationally. Numerous book cover and illustration works.