“Change is inevitable for me to have energetic work/life. I feel every material has possibilities.”
A Life Shaped by Many Worlds
Born in post-war Tokyo and raised by her grandmother, Izumi Ueda Yuu’s early life was steeped in tradition and spirituality. Her grandmother’s home was a sacred space filled with a multitude of gods, their presence marked by daily rituals of offering water and fresh greens. As a child, Izumi watched this routine with a mixture of awe and fear, a combination of emotions that would later inform the emotional depth of her artwork. These early experiences with Japanese animism—the belief that everyday objects and natural phenomena possess spirits—created a foundation for Izumi’s later artistic explorations.
In 1980, her life took a transformative turn when she moved to the United States, a relocation that would be the first of many. From Japan to Singapore and finally to Portugal in 2015, each new home exposed her to different cultures, ideas, and artistic traditions. These changes were not just geographic but also intellectual, as she drew inspiration from the unique textures of life in each country. This constant movement across continents infused her work with a sense of fluidity and adaptability, elements that remain central to her evolving style.
Izumi’s diverse cultural experiences have deeply impacted her approach to art, enabling her to explore new ideas and gain fresh perspectives. Moving every decade from one culture to another, she found not only inspiration but also the opportunity to challenge herself creatively, embracing the inevitable transformations that come with each new chapter of her life.
Izumi Ueda Yuu: The Artist’s Path
The spark that ignited Izumi’s passion for art came during her high school years, when her teacher encouraged her to pursue design. Although she initially lacked interest in academic art, the idea of design resonated with her. At just sixteen, she debuted at the Nika exhibition at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, an experience that solidified her commitment to art. Despite a brief hiatus during which she worked as a graphic designer in Tokyo, Izumi quickly returned to her true calling—practicing and exhibiting art internationally.
Her career has been defined by a series of solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries across Japan, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Portugal. These exhibitions, often shaped by the places she has lived and worked, showcase the versatility of her artistic vision. Izumi’s ability to adapt and transform her style across different cultural contexts has earned her recognition as an artist who bridges the gap between the personal and the universal.
Family circumstances often dictated her geographic relocations, but they also provided new opportunities for artistic exploration. Each country offered its own set of influences, from the vibrant cultural landscapes of Southeast Asia to the historical and artistic richness of Europe. As a result, Izumi’s work has evolved organically, shaped by her surroundings as well as by her inner world.
Sculpting Spirits from Everyday Life
Izumi’s artistic style defies categorization. Rather than adhering to a specific medium, she embraces change as a driving force in her creative process. For her, the fluidity of materials mirrors the constant shifts in life itself. She works with a variety of mediums—drawing, painting, collage, paper sculpture, and found objects—allowing the materials to guide her in unexpected directions. Every object, from the mundane to the extraordinary, has potential in her hands. These elements come together in her installations, where each piece serves as a reflection of both the external world and her internal vision.
Central to her work is the notion of animism, a theme that has been present since childhood. Izumi sees everyday objects—whether a shoe, a leg, or a shirt—as vessels imbued with life, capable of carrying emotional weight and spiritual significance. Through her art, she revitalizes these common items, transforming them into charged objects that hold both personal and collective meaning. This approach allows her to touch upon universal themes while maintaining an intimate connection to her own experiences.
One of her most significant pieces stems from her return to Japan in 2000 after living in the U.S. for fifteen years. The Japanese paper makers she met during this time gifted her paper fiber, which she used to create intricate paper shoes. This project, rooted in both material and memory, marked a turning point in her artistic journey. Since then, shoes, legs, and shirts have become recurring motifs in her work, each symbolizing the seamless connection between art and the everyday.
Izumi Ueda Yuu: A Tapestry of Mediums and Inspirations
Izumi’s workspace is as dynamic as her art. She requires a painting studio with ample wall, table, and floor space, as her process often involves experimenting with different media and installation ideas. When faced with distractions, she doesn’t resist them but instead shifts her focus to another medium, using the interruption as an opportunity for creative growth. This flexibility is key to her ability to continuously evolve, ensuring that her work remains vibrant and full of energy.
Her list of artistic influences includes figures such as Louise Bourgeois, Philip Guston, and Tadanori Yokoo, each known for their emotional depth and innovative approaches to art. Like them, Izumi seeks to create work that is not only visually compelling but also deeply meaningful. The influences of these artists are evident in her exploration of personal and collective memory, as well as in her use of everyday objects to evoke complex emotions and ideas.
Although she has worked across various media throughout her career, photography has played a particularly significant role in her artistic development. With over forty years of experience in photography, she sees it as both an inspirational medium and a tool for creative exploration. It has allowed her to capture fleeting moments, turning them into lasting works of art that complement her installations and sculptural pieces. Looking ahead, Izumi dreams of one day having a solo exhibition in Japan, a return to her roots that would bring her artistic journey full circle.
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