Concept
“The landscape in me may be the same as that in you—feelings that words
cannot convey, expressed through colors and shapes.”
SOU: Beyond the Constraints ofDesign to Pure Artistic Freedom
With a background as a spatial designer and a fervent desire to escape the limitations
imposed by client demands, SOU (Yuji Ito) ventured into the world of visual art with the
aim of achieving an unrestricted creative journey. Born in 1966, SOU spent two decades
designing stores and residential spaces, establishing his own firm in 2000. While he
excelled in bringing clients’ visions to life, by 2020, he felt a growing need for complete
artistic freedom—a desire to create art beyond the constraints of budgets and client
tastes. He made a bold decision to leave his successful career behind and fully pursue
painting in 2021, focusing entirely on art unbound by traditional expectations. His early
exhibitions spanned continents, showcasing digital works in Italy and Spain in 2022,
alongside his original piece “Beyond the Line” in Milan. This inaugural showcase was a
profound pivot from his previous work, as SOU found his authentic expression in
abstract and intuitive landscapes.
In his early exhibitions, SOU aimed to connect with universal themes and invoke shared
human experiences, drawing on a visual language cultivated over years in design. For
SOU, spatial design was more than a job—it was a precursor that helped hone his artistic
instincts and tactile understanding of space, texture, and form. This background
provided him with an unparalleled technical mastery, which he now channels into his
work as an artist, infusing each piece with a sense of structure even as he explores new
realms of abstract expression. His rapid ascent into the global art scene reflects his
commitment to this newfound path, with exhibitions across Japan, Dubai, Rome,
Venice, and Barcelona marking his swift evolution into an internationally recognized
artist.
SOU: Visualizing Inner LandscapesThrough Intuition
SOU’s artistic approach centers on capturing and visualizing the “landscape within.”
Rather than meticulously planning his compositions, he embraces spontaneity, allowing
colors and forms to emerge organically on the canvas. For SOU, art is not an intellectual
exercise but an act of pure intuition, a dance between mind and body that frees him
from preconceived ideas. The creative process begins as an intentional act, yet quickly
shifts to something almost automatic, where he becomes a channel for unspoken
emotions and imagery. This flow, as SOU describes it, is a release of accumulated
impressions, memories, and sensations that have become imprinted on his psyche. He
captures feelings that words fail to convey, using colors and shapes as his primary
language to communicate universally resonant themes.
The landscapes SOU creates are meant to tap into something deeply familiar, even
archetypal, in the viewer. He describes the moment of recognition his audiences often
experience, as though they’ve encountered a long-forgotten scene or memory upon
viewing his work. SOU believes that these landscapes reside within each person; his
paintings merely provide a mirror that reveals them. To him, the imagery and colors are
personal yet universal, hinting at a shared human experience. The freedom he finds in
this process echoes his journey from structured design to uninhibited creation, where
he no longer serves as a vessel for others’ visions but instead brings forth a collective
consciousness embedded in his own internal landscape.
The Art of Layers: Materials and Techniques as an Expression of Life
Working from his Tokyo studio, SOU’s process of layering materials mirrors the layered
complexities of human experience. His workspace reflects his technical rigor from
design days, equipped with expansive tables and carefully selected materials. He
applies various textures and pigments in layers, using acrylics, plaster, imported
pigments, and resins to build dimensional and abstract surfaces. This approach allows
SOU to create works that transcend traditional flatness, making each canvas a tactile
experience. The overlapping colors, textures, and forms in his paintings are not preplanned;
instead, they emerge as he relinquishes control to intuition, guiding his
movements and decisions. This methodology differs drastically from his prior role as a
spatial designer, where calculated precision was paramount. Now, his layers and
textures flow freely, much like memories and emotions intertwine and reemerge over
time.
In crafting his abstracts, SOU draws not from specific motifs or representational forms
but from impressions and life memories, giving his art a deeply personal resonance. His
ability to convey emotional landscapes without definitive shapes speaks to his belief in
abstract art’s power to communicate universally. Each work serves as a bridge between
the tactile and emotional, grounded in the hands-on methods he refined during his
years in design. When faced with creative blocks, SOU seeks inspiration in nature and
trusted companionship, finding renewal in simple pleasures that clear his mind and pave
the way for fresh insights. His creative philosophy embodies a balance of letting go and
engaging with life—a combination of rigorous technique and unrestrained spontaneity.
SOU: Influences and Dreams Beyond Boundaries
Through his evolving portfolio, SOU hopes to continue
creating pieces that evoke a sense of familiarity and wonder, bridging divides through
art that speaks to the universal, unspoken parts of the human experience. His work
stands as a testament to the power of personal transformation and the beauty found
when an artist allows life itself to become the ultimate muse.
