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Writer's pictureMonica Blignaut

Riusuke Fukahori

Updated: Mar 1, 2019

Artist 61

Riusuke Fukahori Goldfish Salvation Three-dimensional painting



Riusuke Fukahori is a rather unique Japanese painter from Aichi, widely famous for his extraordinary three-dimensional paintings of Japanese goldfish, he creates using his own complex technique of pored resin.


Riusuke Fukahori is known best for his resin-based studies of Japanese goldfish; “I am not a resin artist. I am a goldfish artist,” he has said.


Fukahori alternates between pouring resin into a vessel and painting goldfish with acrylic paint, giving the resulting work a three-dimensional optical effect.

The artist was initially attracted to his goldfish because he admired them and viewed their domestication as a metaphor for the stifling conditions of modern life.


Though he infamously keeps dozens of fish around his studio for observation, Fukahori prefers to execute his works from his impressions and memories, and depicts both existing species of fish and invented hybrids.


Ever since the incident where Fukahori found inspiration in his abandoned pet’s tenacity which he refers to as Goldfish Salvation, he turned to goldfish as the exclusive subject matter of his works, without restricting himself to one genre.



Meticulously painting layer by layer, and alternating between pouring resin into cups and bowls and painting goldfish with acrylic paint, Fukahori’s mesmerizing works are both paintings and sculptures, similar to the products of a 3D printer.


On some days I could talk for two paragraphs on how making realistic goldfish with resin is complicated and difficult but my honest reason for choosing this artist today is I like it. I think the goldfish are beautiful. Sometimes in art we overthink and whilst thinking is important. Today is such a day for me where this artist has made my day brighter.



Why today? Why goldfish? Sometimes we don’t need all the answers that art gives us questions too.


Art is magical. So are these goldfish. The artist found salvation in these fish and today they made me feel better.




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