'To behold something beautiful'...An interview with: Fuco Ueda
5 days ago
3 min read
Astral are delighted to speak with Japanese surrealist painter @fucoueda
"Fuco Ueda was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1979 and graduated from the Tokyo Polytechnic University of Arts Graduate School in 2003. Her warm-toned and surrealist paintings come to life thanks to the use of acrylics and powdered mineral pigments on paper, cloth, and wood, which give her artworks a sophisticated delicate touch and delicacy with references to her Japanese traditions. Ueda’s art is indeed inspired by Ukyio prints as well as by the the work of the Japanese female artists and writers who have revolutionised the manga scene targeted to the young girls in the 1970’s." - dorothycircusgallery.com
Read on below for the full interview...
Firstly how is life at the moment?
Although life is quite busy, I try to visit exhibitions, watch movies, and read books as much as possible. Exposing myself to various forms of stimulation helps fuel my artistic inspiration. On top of that, I simply enjoy being in touch with different forms of creativity.
What was it like growing up in Japan in the time that you did... when did you first fall in love with art?
I was born and raised in the Japanese countryside by parents who ran an organic, regenerative farm. Growing up surrounded by abundant nature and various animals formed a foundational experience that still underlies my creative work today.
My love for art first began in primary school, where I frequently read encyclopedias and art books in the school library. I was also drawn to novel covers and illustrations. Additionally, I loved manga and often read the old 1960s manga that belonged to my father.
What are some of the key themes that re-occur within your work and why?
Some of the recurring motifs in my work are traditional Japanese ogiku (large chrysanthemums) and goldfish. These are living things whose beauty and scale have been refined through human selective breeding, rooted fundamentally in the human desire to behold something beautiful. Similarly, throughout art history, female figures have embodied this concept of "beauty." In my work, I overlap these elements as a central theme.
Where does your love of mystical aesthetics come from... how much of an influence do dreams and consciousness have in your work?
Actually, I was a child who slept a lot. I always had vivid dreams, many of which felt realistic and closely tied to reality. Because of this, dream and reality frequently blurred together. As a child, my memories of dreams often mixed with and swapped places with actual memories.
While this no longer happens now that I am an adult, the sensations from those experiences remain vividly in my mind. Perhaps because of this, I am deeply drawn to worldviews like "The Butterfly Dream," the famous parable by the ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi.
What fills you with the most happiness in relation to your work and life?
In terms of my work, it is the fleeting moment when I feel truly satisfied with what I have created. In life, it is being moved by encountering various forms of art and creativity, and sharing those emotions with dear friends.
What does Surrealism mean to you?
Surrealism in art history was once an artistic movement, but today, it feels more like a widely embedded form of spiritual relief that shakes up our everyday common sense. The more unstable the world becomes, the more people need something that allows them to re-evaluate current norms from a broader perspective. I believe modern Surrealism serves as one such outlet.
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Discover more of Fuco Ueda via their:
- Astral Magazine
