Photo: Nacasa & Partners Inc.
Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju is known for his captivating, large-scale waterfall paintings. The artist is one of the few remaining masters of nihonga painting, a traditional Japanese style that’s typically painted on washi (Japanese paper) or eginu (silk), using washes of natural pigments.
In Senju’s case, the artist paints on Japanese mulberry paper and uses a combination of acrylic and natural paints. An expert at capturing cascading water in motion, Senju humbly describes his process by saying, “I use water and gravity and paint waterfalls.” Senju’s soothing paintings have been exhibited all over the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, London in 1996, the Tokyo National Museum in 2003, and the Venice Biennale in 2015. This summer, two major exhibitions opened in celebration of Senju’s extensive body of work.
At the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, many of Senju’s latest works were on display during July 2018, including the artist’s fusuma paintings for the Kongobuji temple in Japan. A sacred site in Shingon esoteric Buddhism, the tea room and great hall were rebuilt and Senju was commissioned to create his incredible, floor-to-ceiling, sliding door paintings.
In a separate exhibition in collaboration with Tokyo-based collective teamLab, Senju’s paintings come to life in an immersive digital installation, titled Waterness. The installation comprises a continuously looped video, projected onto the space’s walls, which allows the viewers to meditatively wander through the waves and allow tranquil moments to wash over them. TeamLab are known for bringing dream-like experiences to life, and their collaboration with Senju is no exception.
You can experience the Hiroshi Senju x teamLab installation until September 2, 2018 and find more of Senju’s projects and past works on his website.
Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju is known for his captivating, large-scale waterfall paintings.
Photo: Nacasa & Partners Inc., courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Hiroshi Senju, “Waterfall” 2016, acrylic and fluorescent pigments on Japanese mulberry paper, 51×64 inches. Image courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Hiroshi Senju, “Falling Water” (Byobu Screen), 2013, acrylic and fluorescent pigments on Japanese mulberry paper, 66x146inches. Image courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Hiroshi Senju, “Falling Water” (Byobu Screen, under ultraviolet light), 2013, acrylic and fluorescent pigments on Japanese mulberry paper, 66x146inches. Image courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
An expert at capturing cascading water in motion, the artist is a master of nihonga painting, a traditional Japanese style that uses washes of natural pigments.
Hiroshi Senju, “Ryujin I” and “Ryujin II”, 2014, acrylic and fluorescent pigments on Japanese mulberry paper, 95×449 inches. Photo by Nacasa & Partners Inc., courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Hiroshi Senju, “Waterfall” 2018, acrylic and natural pigments on Japanese mulberry paper, 38×69 inches. Image courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Hiroshi Senju, Waterfall, 2018, acrylic and natural pigments on Japanese mulberry paper, 55×50 inches. Image courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Hiroshi Senju, “At World's End #22” 2017, acrylic and natural pigments on Japanese mulberry paper mounted on board, 51×153 inches. Image courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
Photo: Nacasa & Partners Inc., courtesy of Sundaram Tagore Gallery
In collaboration with Tokyo-based collective teamLab, Senju’s paintings come to life in an immersive digital installation, titled Waterness.
“Waterness,” an immersive digital installation in collaboration with teamLab.
“Waterness,” an immersive digital installation in collaboration with teamLab.
Hiroshi Senju: Website | Facebook
My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Hiroshi Senju / Sundaram Tagore Gallery / Nacasa & Partners Inc / teamLab.
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