NEO-TOKYO 2099 INTERVIEWS: An interview with artist, Ibuki Kuramochi (Interview by Dennis A. Amith)

I have been to many galleries, exhibits and museums in Japan and have had the opportunity to meet a variety of Japanese artists.

There are those who have their own significant unique style when they showcase their creative style on canvas.

But there is one name that has a unique style that you will never see duplicated by anyone else.

The artist is Ibuki Kuramochi, and when you see her, she has her own style of fashion, her own style of painting which is done with a live music and while painting, Kuramochi looks as if she is taken to another world where “Butoh” (a form of Japanese dance which appeared post-World War II as a reaction against the Japanese dance scene which was imitating western dance) fully takes over and the artistic production is mesmerizing, imaginary but yet wonderful.

It is said that “Eros and natural beauty” is the core of her artwork, but I sense a form of unique, creative energy through her artwork that is hard to define, because one can look at it, conjure many thoughts and interpretations and yet feel that each interpretation is wonderful.

As I went through a time of rumination while evaluating Ibuki’s artwork, I sensed passion with each paint stroke, a sense of light but also at times a hint of something ominous and dark.  A clash between black and white, a demonstration of seeing art untethered to traditional norms, artwork that is not easily define.  But I do know one thing, I am captivated by Ibuki Kuramochi’s work.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Ibuki Kuramochi to discuss her artwork, the integration of Butoh dance into her art and more.

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DENNIS A. AMITH: Before we discuss your career and work, let’s get to know more about you. What point in your life did you feel that art is the career that you wanted to pursue?

IBUKI: My parents told me that I started drawing when I was around 1-year-old. I have many photos of me doing that. When I was in pre-school, around 3-years-old, my teacher told my mother that she had never seen a child my age that drew at such a high level as I did, and that my talent was very obvious to her. I remember when I was 5-years-old, I used to stay at my grandfather’s sake shop often and make portraits of his customers. The customers enjoyed them, and they were surprised that my drawings had such fine detail.

The first time that I felt incredibly moved by art was when I was 12-years-old and I went to a temple in Nara with my family. I saw, and was deeply impressed with, “Silk Road” (a series of paintings by Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama ). At that moment, I traveled The Silk Road through his paintings, and I could feel Hirayama’s powerful soul and strong spirit. At that time, I dreamed that I would someday become a great artist who would make powerful art like Hirayama.

DENNIS A. AMITH: Have there been any artists that inspired you?

IBUKI: Yes, of course, there are many. For example, the British illustrator Aubrey Beardsley. His black ink drawings were influenced by Japanese woodcuts and emphasized the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. Also, William Blake, who some call “the greatest British artist ever”. Also, Sesshu Toyo, the most famous Japanese master of ink and wash painting. Also, Shin Taga, who I had the pleasure of meeting He specializes in making copperplate prints. And of course, Ikuo Hirayama, whom I mentioned before. I also admire and am inspired by Yayoi Kusama, who is the first Japanese female artist to have major international success. I also hope to become successful internationally like her.

DENNIS A. AMITH: You have traveled to various countries and had exhibitions in other countries as well. Because of Japanese familiarity with sumi-e and Shinto religion and traditional Japanese culture, is it always fascinating to you to see how people from other countries view your work compared to Japanese? Is there a big difference between audiences in Japan and audiences who view your work internationally?

IBUKI:  Well, of course I love to show my work to all countries’ people.  We are all members of the human race. I am very happy to be like a bridge that connects Japanese culture, dance and art to other countries outside of Japan.  Of course, Japanese people know well about Japanese culture, dance, and art already because we grew up on it. But, you know, there is also a big interest in things Japanese all over the world recently…Japanese music, food, manga, anime, etc.  An interesting point for me is that when I exhibit my art, or do a live paint/dance performance, no language is necessary. So there are no language barriers. I can communicate with the audience thru my art/dance.

DENNIS A. AMITH: One of the things that you do while painting is Japanese Butoh Dance and you studied at the Kazuo Ohno Buto Dance Studio in Yokohama. How did you become interested in Butoh Dance?

IBUKI:  I went to an exhibition in Tokyo of the Irish-British painter, Francis Bacon. At that exhibition, a video was shown of Butoh dance. Butoh is a modern and unique Japanese dance form. This was the first time that I had seen Butoh, and it impressed me tremendously. A while later, I thought that I needed some dance to add to make my live art performance more exciting and impressive to the audience. At first, I tried taking some contemporary dance classes. However, I could not feel a connection to my art from this style of dance. Then, I remembered how impressed that I was when I first saw Butoh dance. I searched for the best Butoh teacher in Japan. I found the Kazuo Ohno Butoh Dance Studio in Yokohama. It is being run by Yoshito Ohno, the son of Kazuo Ohno. Kazuo Ohno(with Tatsumi Hijikata was the creator of the Butoh dance form which started in 1959. Kazuo Ohno is known as “the soul of Butoh”. I studied with Yoshito Ohno, and I was immediately impressed with Butoh, and I felt a connection to my soul. I remember how Butoh influenced my creativity the first time that I used it with my live painting. Did you know that the famous singer/composer The Weeknd features a Butoh dancer in the video of his hit song “Belong To The World”? This video has been viewed more than 15 million times. I also hope to be able to help bring Butoh dance to the world.

DENNIS A. AMITH: You have a unique presentation with your work, may it be live painting and a musician, you have a creative way of expression through your work? Does that extend to your taste in music, fashion and even food? Are you adventurous in that aspect of your life?

IBUKI:   “Yes” to all three of those!  For example, in music, I like composers Debussy (classical), Michael Nyman (modern piano) and Steve Reich (minimal style).  One of my favorite singers is Bjork, whose music always takes me to another world. Although it is not from my generation, I love Japanese kayokyoku music. Singers like Miyuki Nakajima and Naomi Chiaki. I also Japanese pop idol singers of the 70’s and 80’s like Momoe Yamaguchi and Akina Nakamori.

I can feel the Japanese spirit when I collaborate with Japanese instruments like shamisen, koto and shakuhachi during my live paint and Butoh dance performances.

In fashion, I usually wear one of two styles. One style is to wear all Western style black clothing and shoes. The other style is Japanese kimonos. I love Japanese vintage kimonos, and I have more than 200 in my collection. I wear them either in a traditional style, and other times I like to mix the kimonos with contemporary style shoes, belts, and accessories. I also make my kimonos and hand paint them and wear them during my performances, adding a hood over my head and part of my face.

With food, of course I love Japanese food. However, I also love other countries’ cuisine… Thai, Mexican, Bali, Indian, Italian, Greek. But to be honest, I love Asian food the best. It was interesting to me when I was in Paris for my exhibition and tour, and I drank Chinese jasmine tea. Although I was drinking it in Paris, suddenly I felt the Asian wind coming over me.

DENNIS A. AMITH:  Your work is quite unique, but I’m curious, while you were studying at the prestigious Asagaya College of Art and Design in Tokyo, how has your artwork changed as a student and now in the present?

IBUKI:  When I was an Art student, I used only pencil. That was my style. Now I use Japanese sumi ink and paintbrushes.

As a student, I drew mostly portraits. Now, I create abstract art.  In my art student years, I sometimes did live painting performances, but it was much different than what I do now.

Now, I have added Butoh dance to my performances.

Then, I wore normal clothes and makeup. Now, I wear Japanese kimonos and white geisha makeup.

Then, I used pre-recorded music. Now, I mostly use live music.

I started collaborating with many live musicians, dancers, and actresses during my live paint performances. I learned so much from these collaborations, and grew more and more as an artist. These experiences helped me to develop my own style. Especially when I incorporated Japanese Butoh dance with my performances.

DENNIS A. AMITH: I noticed that there is am emphasis on the color black and white in your paintings. In your own personal words, subconsciously while you are creating your own work, the use of black and white has importance.

IBUKI: I often use the contrast of black and white colors that, to me, has a meaning of “death and life”.

For example, everybody grew up with mother’s milk. However, before giving birth, a mother’s milk is blood. The blood’s red color changes to white when a mother feeds her baby. White color has the meaning of “life” and the “beginning”. I feel a strong feeling of “life” from the color white. On the contrary, black has a meaning of “death” and “the end”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DENNIS A. AMITH:  Let’s talk about your wonderful work. Your 2015 work, “Kakizome” which you created in acrylic and paper. Kakizome can mean “first writing of the year” but each time I look at the image of your work, I saw your work with different perspectives, especially going from top to bottom. The use of lines are heavier towards the bottom, lighter on top. My first inclination was almost “Tengoku/Jigoku”. Possibly me overthinking it each time I view it…almost a “Hijo ni shikkari to nigiru” feeling towards the bottom and and tenshi on top. Granted, my feeling is much different from the word “Kakizome” but it’s the type of feelings I get from this painting, light vs. dark, life and death. Granted, It’s an interpretation that keeps changing with each view for me. But I have to ask, for you when you created “Kakizome”, was there a theme in your mind?

IBUKI:  Dennis, first of all, I have to say that I am so happy that you could interpret my work “Kakizome” in many different ways every time you view it. Actually, other people have felt the same experiences as you have.  As you said, “Kagizome” means “ first writing of the year”. Yes, actually, this was my first painting of the year in 2015. When I painted it, I was feeling the power of the earth and the power of the sky.

DENNIS A. AMITH:  You were born and raised in Gunma, I explored the mountain side and also onsen areas such as Yubatake. I’ve read interviews in which you have said you saw and felt the spirits from the beautiful nature in the area. It’s interesting because when I saw your 2017 painting, “Spirit of Eyes”,it reminded me of the weaving trees and water from a stream in a village near Kusatsu with the black and white. A beautiful, yet haunting work of art which I loved looking at. Especially how your eye has a look that almost looks through one’s soul, had the same feeling with the eye’s of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s ukiyo-e painting of “Ghost” from the 19th century. But can you please tell me more about this painting? If there was a theme in mind?

IBUKI:  Thank you for exploring the onsen of my beautiful hometown, Gunma!  When I was a kid, I often went to onsens with my family.

To people who are not familiar with onsens, they seem like only a hot water bath, but actually it has a special power from the ground, it heals the body and the mind. It is from nature and is a special gift from the earth.

About my artwork, I often include the “eye” on my paintings. The “eye” is a strong icon and thru the “eye” I can show my soul in my paintings.

One of the beliefs of Buddism is, that our ancestors are always looking at us and protect us. “Shugorei” means “Guardian Spirits”.  The “eye” is my soul, but it also the souls of my ancestors.

I didn’t imagine Yubatake Onsen actually, but my artwork and themes are usually based on nature.

DENNIS A. AMITH: You have collaborated with various musicians including rock bands. Does a song or style of music influence your creativity for a painting?

IBUKI:  Definitely, yes. Sometimes I have performed using pre-recorded backing music, but I much prefer using live musicians. Because, when I perform with live musicians, I can always feel the soul from the music and from the musicians. This influences what I paint, and how I dance. I prefer that there is no set music beforehand. Rather, I like the musicians to improvise by their being influenced from my art and dance. That is a true collaboration.

When I collaborate with shamisen, for example, my painting lines will be stronger and the brush strokes will be sharper. My paint and dance movements also will be faster.  On the other hand, when I collaborate with Koto, my movements and the brush strokes will be smoother and softer.  I also like to paint and perform with Western instruments.

Guitar, contrabass, keyboards,etc. Sometimes, I paint and perform with both Japanese and Western instruments.

DENNIS A. AMITH:  If you had to choose three most important tools in creating your artwork, must have things that you often have to purchase over and over and have the greatest importance for your work, what would those three be?

IBUKI: Sumi ink, paintbrushes, and Japanese paper.

DENNIS A. AMITH:  If you had one word to describe you or your paintings, what word would that be and why?

IBUKI: “Unique”. Because my style of art, plus doing live paint together with Butoh dance, my choice of makeup and costumes are considered unique. There are not many artists doing what I do. Not only outside of Japan, but also in Japan. Also, my name, Ibuki, is unique because not many people have my name.

DENNIS A. AMITH: What final words do you have for fans of your work?

IBUKI: I think that my artistic life is a “Journey”. To find new things, to exhibit my art, to go to new places in the world, and to perform, collaborate and meet with new people.
I hope that you will join me on my “Journey” thru my art.

If you would like to find out more about me, please go to my website:
ibuki-kuramochi.com
and my Instagram:
@ibuki_kuramochi

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