STUDIO YUMIKO FURUKAWA

Yumiko Furukawa (born in 1975 in Fukushima, Japan) is a Japanese contemporary artist, painter, and sculptor based in Guam and Tokyo.
Her drawings, paintings, sculptural installations, and performances serve as a bridge between literature and visual arts in order to question the ways in which language shapes knowledge by recasting narratives in a non-linguistic medium.
Fashioned from pencil, paper, watercolor, oil painting, wood, clay, fabric, and spray coating resin, her artworks combine opposing sensual qualities: black and white; hard and soft; opaque and colorfully translucent; geometric and organic; intimate and generic.
Such opposing yet accommodating materials that Furukawa employs are formulated into her rich visual tonality and imagery, whether it be novels, folk tales, poems, works of art criticism, exhibitions, or personal conversations.
Our emotions and fantasies become our stories and artworks
Looking at art and being motivated; reading a novel and marveling in wonder. Experiences like these are what give birth to new stories and art in my life.
For instance, tasting a delectable course meal that a chef has prepared at the Modern at MoMA might inspire a lover to muster up the courage to propose to his girlfriend. You might go see a New Year’s Eve concert by the New York Philharmonic with a friend and end up passionately talking about dreams for the next year, all because of the brilliant performance. Walt Whitman’s beautiful poems might make you want to call your family. These seemingly small occurrences create waves of inspiration and sensation that generate ideas for my artwork and give me strength to go on. I think this can be said for everyone who lives in this world.
My métier is to turn sources of inspiration such as novels, prose, poems, art critiques, art exhibitions, fairy tales, folklore, and even simple conversations with others into visible form using words, paintings, sculptures, and installations.
Every one of us plays a role in changing the world, whether it be a lead or a supporting one. Living side by side with art, I always feel that we are all main characters in our life stories. At the same time, we are also supporting characters that help and give courage to others in their life stories. Within such interweaving tales in this world, we are constantly inspiring each other and creating art.
Our potential is the world’s possibilities. What I mean by that is our happiness, joy, sadness, and anger are what move us and urge us to create something new. The potential we have in such a moment becomes the possibilities of the world. I believe that assembling our potential magnifies the potential of humankind. That is why I continue to create because I wish for our potential to become the world’s promises.
Yumiko Furukawa
Our emotions and fantasies become our stories and artworks
Looking at art and being motivated; reading a novel and marveling in wonder. Experiences like these are what give birth to new stories and art in my life.
For instance, tasting a delectable course meal that a chef has prepared at the Modern at MoMA might inspire a lover to muster up the courage to propose to his girlfriend. You might go see a New Year’s Eve concert by the New York Philharmonic with a friend and end up passionately talking about dreams for the next year, all because of the brilliant performance. Walt Whitman’s beautiful poems might make you want to call your family. These seemingly small occurrences create waves of inspiration and sensation that generate ideas for my artwork and give me strength to go on. I think this can be said for everyone who lives in this world.
My métier is to turn sources of inspiration such as novels, prose, poems, art critiques, art exhibitions, fairy tales, folklore, and even simple conversations with others into visible form using words, paintings, sculptures, and installations.
Every one of us plays a role in changing the world, whether it be a lead or a supporting one. Living side by side with art, I always feel that we are all main characters in our life stories. At the same time, we are also supporting characters that help and give courage to others in their life stories. Within such interweaving tales in this world, we are constantly inspiring each other and creating art.
Our potential is the world’s possibilities. What I mean by that is our happiness, joy, sadness, and anger are what move us and urge us to create something new. The potential we have in such a moment becomes the possibilities of the world. I believe that assembling our potential magnifies the potential of humankind. That is why I continue to create because I wish for our potential to become the world’s promises.
Yumiko Furukawa
Recent Works
These works, created after 2011, were inspired by the aftermath of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi meltdown. At the time, Furukawa was pregnant, and was frequently traveling between Tokyo and her hometown of Fukushima by bullet train.
Furukawa created a new artwork titled Changing Sea after moving to Guam in 2019. She has respect and gratitude for the nature of the Pacific Ocean, and expresses her repentance for the harm human beings inflicted on the marine world through her work.
2019
Tokyo Independent 2019 | Chinretsukan Gallery, The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Art, Tokyo | April 18 – May 5, 2019
2018
Zeno Woman | Fukushima Biennale 2018 | Adachigahara Furusato Mura, Nihonmatsu-city, Fukushima, Japan | October 13 – November 4, 2018
2017
Through the Glass | The Project “Glass Futuristic History”, AGC Asahi Glass Company x Tokyo University of the Arts | Tokyo University of the Arts Yuga Gallery, Tokyo | May 15 – 20, 2017
2015
Mishima Waraku: Harmonious Three Islands | Workshop View | Morinohakobune Art Project | IORI Club, Mishima city, Oonuma, Fukushima October 5, November 10, 2014 January 25, 2015
2013
Chobozekka: The sole place where you can see matchless views | Setouchi Art Triennale 2013, Shodoshima, Kagawa, Japan | March 20 – April 21, Summer: July 20 – September 1, October 5 – November 4, 2013
2011
Asaja: Snake Morning Tea | Aizu Urushi Art festival 2011: Yell to Tohoku | Restaurant Tsuki to Ohisama, Kitakata, Fukushima, Japan | October 1 – November 3, 2011
2010
Art Reviews Drawings | Studio Yumiko Furukawa, New York | May 8 − 10, 2010
2009
QUOTATION | ISE Cultural Foundation, New York | January 7 – February 20, 2009
2007
May | International Studio and Curatorial Program | New York | May 4 − 7, 2007
2006
FLICKER | Gallery Side 2, Tokyo, Japan | December 22 − January 26, 2006
2005
Tent for Poet | Japan, Scotland, Taiwan and Portugal represented in Group Show at Location One | Location One, New York | June 4 − July 30, 2005
2003
Awafuku and Komefuku: Cinderella Story in Tokamachi City | Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2003 | Nurigi Butsudan Shop, Tokamachi, Niigata, Japan | July 20 – September 7, 2003
2001
Titanic Daisy | Gallery Side 2, Tokyo, Japan | May 29 – June 22, 2001
2000
Reading Book Series | room, Gentilly, France | October 28 – December 4, 2000
Recent Works
These works, created after 2011, were inspired by the aftermath of the Great Tohoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi meltdown. At the time, Furukawa was pregnant, and was frequently traveling between Tokyo and her hometown of Fukushima by bullet train.
Furukawa created a new artwork titled Changing Sea after moving to Guam. She has respect and gratitude for the nature of the Pacific Ocean, and expresses her repentance for the harm human beings inflicted on the marine world through her work.
2019
Tokyo Independent 2019 | Chinretsukan Gallery, The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Art, Tokyo | April 18 – May 5, 2019
2018
Zeno Woman | Fukushima Biennale 2018 | Adachigahara Furusato Mura, Nihonmatsu-city, Fukushima, Japan | October 13 – November 4, 2018
2017
Through the Glass | The Project “Glass Futuristic History”, AGC Asahi Glass Company x Tokyo University of the Arts | Tokyo University of the Arts Yuga Gallery, Tokyo | May 15 – 20, 2017
2015
Mishima Waraku: Harmonious Three Islands | Workshop View | Morinohakobune Art Project | IORI Club, Mishima city, Oonuma, Fukushima October 5, November 10, 2014 January 25, 2015
2013
Chobozekka: The sole place where you can see matchless views | Setouchi Art Triennale 2013, Shodoshima, Kagawa, Japan | March 20 – April 21, Summer: July 20 – September 1, October 5 – November 4, 2013
2011
Asaja: Snake Morning Tea | Aizu Urushi Art festival 2011: Yell to Tohoku | Restaurant Tsuki to Ohisama, Kitakata, Fukushima, Japan | October 1 – November 3, 2011
2010
Art Reviews Drawings | Studio Yumiko Furukawa, New York | May 8 − 10, 2010
2009
QUOTATION | ISE Cultural Foundation, New York | January 7 – February 20, 2009
2007
May | International Studio and Curatorial Program | New York | May 4 − 7, 2007
2006
FLICKER | Gallery Side 2, Tokyo, Japan | December 22 − January 26, 2006
2005
Tent for Poet | Japan, Scotland, Taiwan and Portugal represented in Group Show at Location One | Location One, New York | June 4 − July 30, 2005
2003
Awafuku and Komefuku: Cinderella Story in Tokamachi City | Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2003 | Nurigi Butsudan Shop, Tokamachi, Niigata, Japan | July 20 – September 7, 2003
2001
Titanic Daisy | Gallery Side 2, Tokyo, Japan | May 29 – June 22, 2001
2000
Reading Book Series | room, Gentilly, France | October 28 – December 4, 2000
“Another work embodies the sea along the coast of Fukushima, which was hardened and sealed off with polyester. It contains something that our eyes can’t see. Founded on the anger and despair of nothing being solved, Furukawa’s works continue to give silent screams.”
Hiroshi Senju (Artist)
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News and announcements
News and announcements from Yumiko Furukawa.
Yumiko Furukawa Solo Exhibition “Pressure” at Guam CAHA Gallery
We are pleased to present the exhibition "Pressure" at the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) Gallery.
Online Exhibition: Changing Sea
We will hold an online exhibition titled Changing Sea to commemorate the launch of the new website.
Website Renewal
We launched a new website, which features separate pages in Japanese and English, a richer archive of past works, and improved designs and images in order to provide a better introduction to Furukawa’s past and present artistic endeavors.
News and announcements
News and announcements from Yumiko Furukawa.
Yumiko Furukawa Solo Exhibition “Pressure” at Guam CAHA Gallery
We are pleased to present the exhibition "Pressure" at the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) Gallery.
Online Exhibition: Changing Sea
We will hold an online exhibition titled Changing Sea to commemorate the launch of the new website.
Website Renewal
We launched a new website, which features separate pages in Japanese and English, a richer archive of past works, and improved designs and images in order to provide a better introduction to Furukawa’s past and present artistic endeavors.