Skip to main content

Artist Spotlight

Kengo Kimura

"Jinen"

Kengo Kimura is an artist profoundly influenced by the rich natural environment of Japan. Born and raised in Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture, he grew up witnessing the overwhelming power of nature in a region where snowfall reaches three meters on flatlands and up to 25 meters in mountainous areas during winter. This environment deeply shaped his life and artistic vision, eventually becoming the central theme of his work.

Living in such a snowy region, it was almost inevitable for him to take up snowboarding. Through snowboarding, he encountered many people and began to express himself through drawing. Although self-taught, his passion for art grew daily, leading him to question, “Why do I want to create?” and “For what purpose do I continue to create?” Without finding definitive answers, he carried these questions within him as he continued to produce art.

NepenthesNYC-JINEN-Kengo-Kimura-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe-102.jpg__PID:2e36dd7e-6ba7-4df6-b413-b2b2c9d6548f
NepenthesNYC-JINEN-Kengo-Kimura-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe-044.jpg__PID:9d53f88c-aed0-4cb9-8304-8a07edde0646

Kimura transitioned to detailed pen drawings using a fountain pen, further refining his artistic expression. During this process, he delved deeply into his roots, Japanese culture, and religion, drawing particular inspiration from shrines, temples, religious paintings, and ancient Shinto practices. He established his unique style using black and vermilion, reflecting both his cultural heritage and personal artistic identity.

At the heart of Kimura’s work lies a profound sense of interconnectedness and cyclical unity, resonating with the essence of traditional Japanese spirituality and cultural perspectives. His art incorporates vermilion, symbolizing life and renewal; black, representing eternity and silence; and white, signifying purity and harmony. Through these colors, Kimura expresses the power of nature, its enduring order, and the foundation of life itself.

Kimura hopes that those who view his art will feel even a small sense of jinen—the inherent interconnectedness of existence—and reflect on the cycles of life. He envisions this awareness leading to a lifestyle more aligned with the natural flow of the Earth, encouraging deeper thought about how consumption and production impact the planet. Kimura strongly wishes for people to consider how we can pass on a healthier environment to future generations, fostering a better understanding of the damage humanity inflicts on the Earth and inspiring action for a sustainable future.

NepenthesNYC-JINEN-Kengo-Kimura-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe-052.jpg__PID:4e6b3311-3d03-4232-bcc7-93b55e06b019
NepenthesNYC-JINEN-Kengo-Kimura-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe-014.jpg__PID:d60f13a8-4ccf-4990-b2cf-6d950f7a1db2
NepenthesNYC-JINEN-Kengo-Kimura-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe-021.jpg__PID:0f13a84c-cf69-40b2-8f6d-950f7a1db2e0
NepenthesNYC-JINEN-Kengo-Kimura-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe-035.jpg__PID:90b2cf6d-950f-4a1d-b2e0-8278f8659224
34Kengo-Kimura-Setup-photosbyYasuhitoWakebe.jpg__PID:cf6990b2-cf6d-450f-ba1d-b2e08278f865

Follow: @kengokimura