Kaori SOUTOME

(b. 1981, Tochigi prefecture, Japan)

Kaori’s themes are primarily inspired from the traditional Japanese four seasons, in which she inserts plants and insects – with butterflies notably having frequent appearances. The perfect garden of her imagination bursts with colourful flowers, not to mention plants and insects, thus enabling her to watch dramatic changes throughout the four seasons of the year, coming around full circle time and time again.

A close study of her pieces reveals a Japanese painting technique known as Nihonga, which was learned during conservation studies. This incorporates mineral pigment, gold leaf and silk, resulting in a subtly glimmering quality that compliments the imagined settings.

Kaori says:
“I would like the aesthetic quality of my paintings to combine the traditional techniques of Japanese painting with a presence of modern life.”

Kaori has widely and successfully exhibited at solo and group exhibition at department stores across in Japan since 2007, including Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Seibu Ikebukuro, Shibuya Tokyu, Shinjuku Isetan, Tobu Ikebukuro and others.

Scent of Wisteria

2019
Mixed media (mineral pigment, gold leaf) on Japanese paper

45.5cm × 38cm

Dazzling

2019
Mineral pigment on silk

41cm × 27.3cm

Pecking

2018

Mixed media (mineral pigment, platinum leaf) on Japanese paper

Ø 33.3cm

Ruby Garden

2016
Japanese pigment Japanese paper

Ø 33.3cm

Sapphire Garden

2016
Mixed media (mineral pigment) on Japanese paper

Ø 33.3cm

Rose Cocktail

2015
Mixed media (mineral pigment, gold leaf) on Japanese paper

11.5cm × 11.5cm

Hydrangea

2015
Mixed media (mineral pigment, platinum leaf) on Japanese paper

11.5cm × 11.5cm

spring garden

2015

Mixed media (mineral pigment, gold leaf) on Japanese paper

91cm × 60.6cm

EDUCATION

2010
Master of Arts, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts, Cultural Heritage Conservation Studies of Restoration Japanese Painting.

2008
Bachelor of Arts, Tohoku University of Art and Design, Department of Japanese painting, Yamagata, Japan