Shushu Yume

Yume Shu is a painter based in Tokyo. Graduated from Tama Art University Graduate School. It mainly creates the “Skin Painting” series, and has repeatedly received awards and selections at domestic and international art awards and competitions. The work is in the Ueno Royal Museum of Art.

In my new portrait, I aim to express my consciousness by using human skin as a motif in my paintings. The representation of skin contrasts with the inner self, and I seek to explore beauty not just through surface-level recognition, but by transcending people's inherent perceptions. Using skin as a medium, I pursue beauty beyond the confines of individual identity.

Throughout history, the study of the human body has been explored by many artists: Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance, Francis Bacon with his deformed figures, Pablo Picasso who sought to change perspectives, and Jenny Saville who continues to explore the potential of bodily expression. Humanity, over time, has delved deeper into understanding the body and the self through various approaches.

I, too, have continuously worked to explore the possibilities of the human condition, beginning from myself—from my consciousness to my body. The soul resides within the body, and at times, a beautiful body can instantly captivate others. Yet, human history is also a history of violence. When we consider things more delicately, it is not far-fetched to say that even our very presence on Earth constitutes a form of violence. Violence is an inseparable part of humanity.

Inspired by the phenomenon of blood pooling beneath the skin, I channel this into my creative process. This phenomenon becomes an essential theme in my work, connecting the inner and outer aspects of the human experience, and adding a new dimension to my art.