Cotoh Tsumi's portraits span from flat, cartoon-esque drawings to rich paintings with deep skin tones and realistic features. A testament to the artist’s skill and versatility, both ends of the spectrum seduce the audience with airy and fashionable characters caught in time. The artist is also known for their commercial illustration in music and apparel brands, most notably being the main artist behind the branding of Japanese pop music duo Yoasobi. Their recent publication Akaban charts variety in imagination, from science fiction concept art to emotional portraiture, it is a collection of over 500 illustrations covering nearly every facet of Tsumi’s unspoken universe. Tsumi is known for their exploration of the boundaries between contemporary digital art and traditional illustration, combining multiple techniques such as silkscreenprinting, giclee printing, ukiyo-e woodblock, and painting.

Location:
4 Garden Walk, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3EQ

25.11-30.11

The exhibition is comprised of 15 original works, 9 hand-drawn and 6 silkscreens.

Tsumi's drawings are made with homemade brushes to achieve characteristically Japanese line work. The intentional focus on lines specifically oppose vector drawing or the rounded Disney style. As the bus panels aren't flat, the silkscreen prints required copious trial and error to get to the flawless prints presented here.

Tsumi's solo show consists of painting and drawing upon salvaged London bus panels with the proceeds going towards supporting London’s homeless and disadvantaged youth.