工藤 沙由美 Sayumi Kudo

1983 - / F / Kanagawa
2008　Graduated from the Department of Painting at Musashino Art University

Expressing the Multifaceted Nature of Women through Detailed Line Art by Sayumi Kudo

Sayumi Kudo hails from Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and is an artist renowned for her intricate line art. She graduated from Musashino Art University, College of Art and Design, Department of Painting, where she honed her craft. After completing her university studies, she embarked on a full-fledged journey into the world of detailed line art. Kudo's distinctive style involves painstakingly creating fine lines using pigment-based 0.03mm pens. For her, the meticulous accumulation of lines serves a role akin to traditional paint on a canvas. Her primary focus revolves around depicting female figures, with various forms of flora and fauna making appearances in her works, guided by the concept and narrative of each piece.

The women depicted by Kudo embody the multifaceted nature of femininity within a single female figure. They exude a delicate charm reminiscent of a young girl while simultaneously possessing an enchanting and graceful allure. The depictions convey elegance, a sense of innocence, and at times, maternal qualities or androgyny, showcasing a variety of expressions. Furthermore, Kudo occasionally visually expresses the inner complexity and diversity of a single woman by depicting the same individual as multiple distinct women. Notably, Kudo's depictions of hands and fingers are highly distinctive. Despite being portrayed in surreal forms and positions, they strongly assert their presence within the artwork, hinting at the relationships and willpower of the depicted women.

The depiction of female skin is characterized by its flat representation using only blank spaces, incorporating a distinctive aspect of Japanese art. Meanwhile, the meticulously drawn lines have transitioned over the years to convey a sense of three-dimensionality, accentuating the contrast between the lines and the blank spaces even more vividly.

In recent years, Kudo has actively embraced new series, such as those incorporating backgrounds or employing white pens on colored supports. She steadfastly pursues the creation of art beyond the confines of materials and techniques, striving stoically and avidly to explore new territories within the realm of painting.