Profile

 Born in Yokohama in 1961, Kisho Tokutomi's movie career started early in junior high school when he began producing movies for school festivals and "four walling" them. By 1982 he was working in a video production company. From then on, for 15 years, he made his mark directing PR movies and also TV dramas. Today he is one of the most original producers in his field.

The secret to Kisho's success with video productions and movies field was always his "artist's eye" -- his superb visual and artistic sensibility.

 Little wonder then that in 1994 he progressed to painting, inspired by the works of the surrealist, Max Walter Svanberg as well as Japanese traditions. He began exhibiting his work in 1995 at exhibitions hold at city galleries in Yokohama, and later, Kamakura. In the year 2000 he held his own exhibition at "C'est Rare" in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district. More private exhibitions followed in the prestigious Ginza area. In 2005 and 2006, his works were on display at three exhibitions in Australia. Kisho had gone international.

 This is arguably the most distinctive aspect of Kisho's works as a Japanese artist -- they are international to the extent that they draw on European surrealism, yet also uniquely Japanese since they make extensive use of Japanese traditional art, especially ukiyo-e. With Kisho, East and West come together in imaginative explorations of the human spirit and the universe beyond.

 

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Comment from Kisho

 When I was in elementary school, I loved reading picture books, especially books about natural things -- plants, insects, and fish. I tried to imitate illustrations with crayons. In junior high school, I had a telescope. I looked at the planets and the stars. I was fascinated by the mystery of the universe. It was miraculous -- and I began to believe in miracles. Looking through microscopes, I could see another kind of universe, too, populated by tiny strange creatures. Here I could see the life force at work.

 I believe every living thing has value. Animals, plants, human beings -- we all have the same home -- the Earth. So in this sense, we are not "superior" to other living things -- even to insects. We all come from the same place. We all depend on each other. My art seeks to express the underlying life force that animates us all -- that makes animals, plants and people one.

 I know an animal hospital which has been rescuing abandoned animals, giving them medical treatment, and trying to find them foster homes. This hospital is supported by the Kanagawa SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The staff people are working very hard and they have been making a big difference -- but the hospital does not have enough money to really provide for the animals as it wants to. There are simply so many feral cats in need of help -- and 30 year old cat shelter is in desperate need of renovation. Since the hospital doesn't have the financial resources it needs, I am donating a part of income from my artworks to help it and the Kanagawa SPCA.

Exhibition

SEP 17 - 23, 1995

 Group Exhibition by MUDOHKAI '95
 Citizen of Yokohama Gallery

AUG. 10 - 19, 2000

 Private Exhibition
 Art Gallery "C'est-Rare" in Harajuku Tokyo

NOV. 10 - 16, 2003

 Private Exhibition
 " TOKUTOMI EXHIBITION 2003 "
 Art Gallery Nike in Ginza Tokyo

AUG. 16 - 21, 2004

 Private Exhibition
 " KISHO TOKUTOMI EXHIBITION 2004 "
 Art Gallery La Mer in Ginza Tokyo

APR. 18- 22, 2007

 “Art Melbourne 07”
 Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Australia

MAY.30 - JUN.1, 2008

 Art Brisbane 08
 Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Center
 Brisbane Australia

SEP. 27 − OCT 08, 2008

 Art Collection by 30 Japanese Artists
 
Japanese Modern & Pop Art will be exhibited by Japanese Artists.
 Art Collection is a part of Melbourne Fringe Festival.

 Venue: Collingwood Gallery , Australia

MAR. 17 - 23, 2010

 Art Competition in Sydney 2010 by Japanese Artistsy
 Tom Dunne gallery Sydney, Australia.  Grand prize !

OCT. 21 − 26, 2011

 Resembleement des artistes du pop art jaonais contemporain
 Galerie Brugier-Rigail ,PARIS

FEB. 15 − JUL , 2013

 La Japon et ses contemporains
 Urban'・hair Consept Shop Gallery ,PARIS

OCT. 18 − NOV 2, 2014  CHIMERIA Festival of Arts and Visionary Sciences
 Sedan ,FRANCE
APR. 24 − 30, 2016  FANTASTIC ART SHOW TOKYO 2016
 2F Gallery Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan ,JAPAN
 International Fantastic Art Association
APR. 5 − 27, 2019  Art TAIWAN & JAPAN 2019
 The Pier-2 Art Center/Young art space
Character award

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Copyright 2012 Kisho Tokutomi All Rights Reserved.
Please do not use my pictures without my permission.

E-mail k.tokuto-mi@tokyo.email.ne.jp