Kuroshio Current

Aoki Shigeyoshi was a student in Horie Masaaki’s drawing class at the former Chiba Junior High School. Later, studying in the crafts department at Tokyo Fine Arts School, he learned dyeing techniques from Hirokawa Matsugoro and aspired to become a dyeing artist. Initially, Aoki employed paste-resist dyeing in intricate designs resembling the style of his teacher Hirokawa. Over time, however, he embraced bolder compositions with the theme of landscape, and began incorporating waxresist techniques. This work depicts the dramatic landscape of Ubara, a scenic area in Katsuura City, Chiba, and has the format of a two-panel folding screen. The black-dyed cliffs convey a hard texture and are highlighted by golden light, which forms a stark contrast with the dark navy blue of the imposing rocks in the foreground. The striking color dynamics emphasize the cliffs’ resilience amid the rough waves of the Pacific. (U.M.)