Wondering with Yuji Kanamaru
As part of Wonders of Nature, New Art Museum Singapore’s immersive celebration of biodiversity and imagination, Japanese artist Yuji Kanamaru invites visitors into a dreamlike world where texture, memory, and animal forms gently collide. Known for his use of mixed media—burlap, newspapers, rock paint—and emotive animal motifs, Kanamaru blends the nostalgic with the surreal. In this interview, he shares the personal inspirations and quiet symbolism behind his textured, heartfelt works.
Yuji Kanamaru’s Artworks in Wonders of Nature
What materials and techniques do you primarily use in your work, and how do you decide on them for each piece?
Based on acrylic paint, we use cloth, newspapers and Japanese rock paint as a "mix media style." I am not particular about the art materials, and I choose the materials that I need to reproduce the images that come to my mind on the screen.
Do you find inspiration in any particular sources—nature, culture, personal experiences—when creating your pieces?
I value my "personal experience" and draw animals. By simplifying and expressing friendly animals, rather than drawing them as they are. As a result, we believe that the aesthetic sense and sensibility of the producer and the viewer will be connected.
Tides of Lives (2021), Acrylic and Mineral Pigments on Board, 162.0 × 335.7 cm
What role do animals play in your art—are they symbolic, personal, or connected to a broader theme?
Animals have been rooted in people's lives since ancient times as family and friends and sometimes as objects of awe. We have filled in the gaps in our hearts as "a vessel for projecting thoughts." These animals are depicted as being connected to the viewer's unconsciousness and carrying dialogue and empathy.
Yuji Kanamaru’s artworks offer more than visual beauty—they create moments of quiet reflection and emotional connection, especially through his symbolic portrayal of animals as vessels of empathy. His contribution to Wonders of Nature encourages visitors to slow down, feel, and see nature not just as a setting, but as a shared experience. Step into this intimate world and rediscover the warmth of nature through art.