Something’s Fishy: The Surrealism of Kosuke Ajiro

This week we feature the dreamy surrealism of Japanese artist Kosuke Ajiro. I’d like to tell you a little background on this artist, but the Internet was stingy in coming up with biography info. A website and a very basic Pinterest page produced some excellent work, but gleaned little personal information other than Ajiro is an illustrator, painter and graphic designer from Tokyo who enjoys fishing.

That last part is readily apparent in the work seen here, as fish and other sea creatures are very often the central figures, and much of the work is set near, on, or under water. Even what looks like a land-locked village scene (“決闘 (Duel)”), features what looks like a sea serpent rises from a fountain.

Typically, greens and blues dominate, although Ajiro uses a varied palette of muted colors along with interesting, sometimes jarring, shapes to produce surreal, almost abstract effects. If some of the work looks multi-dimensional, it’s because Ajiro often works in a collage-like cut-and-paste style, evident here in “Sakana 2.”

The work is quiet and contemplative, yet not without a touch of subtle whimsy. Look closely and you’ll see traditional Japanese influences, as well as modern masters like Heironymous Bousch, Joan Miro and Paul Klee. We may not know much about the artist, about influences, motivations or visions, but the excellent art of Kosuke Ajiro speaks for itself. Check out the gallery after the jump.