Fujio Kawagishi

Paintings of flowering plants such as old illustrated encyclopedias of flora or miniatures in Edo era.Kawagishi draws and paints not only Japanese traditional works such as Kakejiku (hanging picture scroll) or Makimono (a scroll), but also unique styles of paintings such as stamp-sized (3cmX3cm) paintings or card paintings.

In 1991 his Japanese style bound binding books “Suika” (completed in 10 volumues) were introduced in the magazine “Ginka” (vol.78) published by Bunka Shuppan kyoku.

In recent years he painted 41 pieces of Tsubaki (camellia) as illustrations for the book “Tsubaki Shirabe” written by Toko Adachi, the head of a school of the art of flower arrangement.

From his miniatures on which Japanese seasons are beautifully colored, we feel the graceful strength on his overwhelmingly fine lines.

Painting works by Kawagishi are suggestive of old illustrated encyclopedia of flora and also of British botanical arts.He sublimates images of flowering plants on Japanese style binding books with his won sense of design, and his delicate painting style gives rise to exquisiteness.