Yukihisa Isobe

Yukihisa Isobe, born in Tokyo, was accepted into the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied oil painting under the guidance of Ryohei Koiso. He became a member of the Demokrato Artists Association, founded by mixed media artist Ei-Q. Isobe actively participated in the ‘Yomiuri Independent’ exhibition, which attracted numerous avant-garde artists. Additionally, he established his own atelier in Aoyama and began exploring the art of lithography. From 1961 to 1965, Isobe’s notable works primarily featured stone dust embellished with repetitive Wappen elements. His distinct Wappen characteristic, reminiscent of the prevalent Ivy Style in the 1950s, incorporated repeated literal symbols, fresco textures, and embossed structures. The combination of these elements complemented one another and captured global attention. One of Yukihisa Isobe’s most well-known artworks is his ecological art piece titled Where has the river gone? (2000). It depicts yellow flags floating on a green field, with the brown land resembling a canvas. The vibrant and captivating colours outline a winding road, marking the historical path of the Shinano River. This work represents Isobe’s passionate dedication to ecology, despite his early focus on fine art studies. Fram Kitagawa, the curator of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, once expressed admiration for Isobe’s work, stating, “What Isobe currently does is exactly what I am longing for – art that explores the relationship between the natural world and human civilization.”