Wataru Kawashima - The Depth Within Ink
April 4th — April 22nd, 2026
April 4th — April 22nd, 2026
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Wada Garou is pleased to present “The Depth Within Ink”, a solo exhibition by Japanese painter Wataru Kawashima, taking place at GINZA ATRIUM in GINZA SIX from April 4 to April 22.
Kawashima brings together contemporary spatial composition and the traditional techniques of Nihonga, creating poetic environments shaped by light and water. Raised in a family devoted to Japanese painting and calligraphy, he was surrounded from an early age by artworks and authentic materials. Grounded in the belief that a deep sensitivity to materials gives rise to technique, Kawashima has continuously explored the nature of his medium—mineral pigments, nikawa glue, ink, inkstones, brushes, and washi paper. In parallel with his artistic practice, he serves as Professor and Vice President at Kyoto City University of Arts, where he is actively engaged in mentoring the next generation. This exhibition, titled “The Depth Within Ink”, focuses on Kawashima’s ongoing research into antique ink, presenting approximately 80 works. By taking rubbings that document inks from different historical periods, he carefully studies their individual characteristics. Drawing on this understanding, he deliberately incorporates aged—and at times deteriorated—ink into his practice, allowing the element of “time” to emerge within the work itself. We invite you to experience the subtle richness and expansive depth of black revealed through these works. [Talk Events] We will be hosting talk events by Wataru Kawashima. He will share his deep engagement with ink, as well as explore the history of its use in Japan. No reservation is required, and all are welcome to attend. April 5 (Sun), 14:00 — Talk: “On Ink” April 19 (Sun), 14:00 — Talk: “On Inkstones” 
Wataru Kawashima
Born in 1966 in Kyoto, Japan. After graduating from Kyoto Seika University, Kawashima has continued his practice as an artist based in Kyoto. Raised in a family of Japanese painters and calligraphers, he was exposed from an early age to artworks and authentic materials. This background has led him to a sustained and rigorous exploration of the materials themselves—mineral pigments, nikawa glue, ink, inkstones, brushes, and washi paper. Employing techniques that draw out the distinctive qualities of Nihonga materials, Kawashima has reexamined the tradition of kachō-ga (bird-and-flower painting), a genre uniquely developed in Japan, through the lenses of “distance” and “time,” seeking new possibilities for its expression. In recent years, guided by the belief that an awareness of material naturally gives rise to technique, he has actively presented works that conceive of ink as both “particle” and “wave.” His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Nitten Members’ Award, the Kyoto Art and Culture Award, and the Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Merit Award. 【Selected Awards, Exhibitions, and Positions】 1996, 2002 — Special Selection Prize, Nitten 2004 — Kyoto City New Artist Award 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2023 — Solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi Main Store 2006 — Commissioned work for Kyoto State Guest House 2016 — Murō Sansui-zu folding screen, Murō-ji Temple 2020 — KYOTO STEAM 2020 International Art Competition, Startup Exhibition (Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, Higashiyama Cube) 2021 — Lost in Translation (Kyoto City University of Arts Gallery @KCUA) 2023 — 10th Nitten (Nitten Members’ Award) 2025 — 38th Kyoto Art and Culture Award 2026 — 44th Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Merit Award Current Positions: Member of Nitten; Trustee, Vice President, and Professor at Kyoto City University of Arts INSTAGRAM @kawashima_wataru INFORMATION
Wataru Kawashima - The Depth Within Ink April 4th - April 22nd, 2026 11:00am - 8:00pm Ginza Tsutaya Books ATRIUM GINZA SIX 6F CONTACT [email protected] |