ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) opened ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE in the CI Plaza, a commercial facility situated next to ITOCHU’s Tokyo Headquarters, in 2012, for the purpose of the growth of next generations, community contribution and promoting art and culture within and outside Japan through art as part of its social contribution activities. A number of exhibitions have since been held in the space. Having so far attracted 150,000 visitors, the ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE marked its 4th anniversary in October 2016.

The ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE will soon hold a new exhibition titled Exhibition of Kazuyuki Suto, an Up-and-Coming Japanese Painter: Wind Blowing through Seasons. Kazuyuki Suto has produced Japanese-style paintings with the theme of the seasons and wind with a focus on small creatures that are close to humans. His works are richly colored with rock pigments and depict wind that clearly blows through the scenery and the breaths of tiny lives to remind viewers of their childhood that they have almost forgotten, impressing them with a world of tenderness and love that is filled with kindness.

He has recently transcended the world of art to broaden the scope of his activities. For example, he produced a painting for the cover of the new publication titled Buppo no Tanemaki (Sowing the Seeds of Buddhism) written by Tai-in Murakami in commemoration of his appointment as new Chief of the Yakushiji Temple, a Buddhist temple with 1,300 years of history. This exhibition will feature the original painting that was commissioned for the cover for the first time. In addition, several related events will also take place, including a sermon given by Tai-in Murakami.

Visitors will enjoy the wind of Japan’s four seasons in his works at the exhibition venue.

(Prior application is required./For details about individual events, please refer to the ITOCHU AOYAMA ART SQUARE website.)

Sermon: Buppo no Tanemaki by Tai-in Murakami, Chief of the Yakushiji Temple
Date and Hours: 16:30 - 17:30, Sunday, January 29
Since ancient times Buddha has been sowing the seeds of Buddhism in people’s minds through sermons.
The new Chief of the Yakushiji Temple will gently discuss how we should live our lives.

Workshop: Pulverize natural ore into rock pigment
Date and Hours: 14:00 - 15:30, Saturday, February 11
Participants will pulverize natural malachite ore into the greenish-blue rock pigment that is used in Japanese-style paintings and use it to create Japanese-style paintings.

Workshop: Make Japanese-style paintings with stencils
Date and Hours: 14:00 - 15:30, Sunday, February 12
Make Japanese-style paintings with stencils of pictures and pattern hollows as well as sponges.

Brief Biography
1981: 　Born in Gunma Prefecture
2005: 　Graduated from the Department of Painting at Tama Art University, completing the Japanese painting course
2007: 　Completed the Master’s degree program at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, in preservation and restoration of cultural assets (His final works for the course have been purchased.)
2010: 　Completed the Doctoral program at the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts, in preservation and restoration of cultural assets (His work for the doctoral degree examination won a special prize from Hasegawa Co., Ltd.)
Currently, he is a fellow at the Nihon Bijutsuin (literally, Japan Art Institute) and a part-time lecturer at Keio University
Winning History
2006: 　Prize of Encouragement in the 3rd Maeda Seison Memorial Award and Exhibition (Later his work is accepted for exhibition in 2008)
His work was accepted for the first time for the 91st Saiko Inten Exhibition (Later, his works are accepted for exhibitions in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
2007: 　His work was accepted for the first time for the 62nd Spring Inten Exhibition (Later, his works are accepted for exhibitions in 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016)
2009: 　Prize of the Chief Director of the Japan Rehabilitation Aid Association in the Yuga-no-Kai Exhibition