Kyuryudo Begins Distribution of Exhibition Catalog/Book for the Acclaimed "Katsura Funakoshi: Sculpture and Drawing" Exhibition (March 28 - May 16, Nishimura Gallery) from April 22!

In the spring of 2024, sculptor Katsura Funakoshi, who passed away at the age of 72 after an illness, was globally acclaimed for his mystical wood sculptures featuring deep gazes from marble eyes. Meanwhile, Funakoshi's captivating drawings are also widely known, and it is no exaggeration to say that the creativity behind his serene and enigmatic sculptural works is guided by his beautiful and powerful line drawings.

At the end of this book, a public dialogue with Kenzaburo Oe, held in 2004, is re-recorded over 18 pages, making it a volume that allows for an examination of Katsura Funakoshi's creation and contemplation through sculpture, drawing, and dialogue.

From the page featuring "Hand Grasping Words" (2004)

・Where did the invisible forms and new shapes come from?

The opening of the book features an essay written by Katsura Funakoshi for a 2015 exhibition catalog, in which he describes his understanding of "human existence" gained through his creative work ("Katsura Funakoshi: Sphinx in Me," Kyuryudo, 2015). In this short essay, Funakoshi, who constantly evolved, clearly describes the emergence of new images and how he perceived them as creations.

From the pages featuring "Sphinx Watching War" (2004) / "Boy with Blue Background" (2004)

・Illustrated pages beginning with the mystical female figure "Hand Grasping Words"

This book begins with a mystical monochrome photograph of the impressive work "Hand Grasping Words" (2004), featuring a beautiful hand peeking over a shoulder. It continues with a drawing of a nude woman with a hand on one shoulder, "Nude with Hand" (2004), followed by new photographs of "Hand Grasping Words," a female figure with blue glass on her head, "Book of Blue" (2017), and drawings with similar colored surfaces on the head, forming a series of related works. Subsequently, various drawings unfold leisurely. The beautiful and powerful line drawings exude a strong presence.

From the pages featuring "Untitled" (2020) / "Untitled" (2020)

・Re-recording of "Public Dialogue: Novelist Kenzaburo Oe × Sculptor Katsura Funakoshi"

The latter half of this book re-records a public dialogue between Kenzaburo Oe and Katsura Funakoshi (from "Bijutsu no Mado," Seikatsu no Tomosha, May 2004 issue). Through the dialogue between two creators working in different fields, literature and art, one can gain a deeper understanding of Katsura Funakoshi's works.

◎Product Information

"Katsura Funakoshi: Sculpture and Drawing"

Target: General Art

Release Date: April 22, 2026

Price: 2,860 yen (tax included)

Planning: Nishimura Gallery

Publisher: Kyuryudo Co., Ltd.

Main Specifications: Hardcover, A5 size (210×148mm), 100 pages

◎Exhibition Information

"Katsura Funakoshi: Sculpture and Drawing"

Venue: Nishimura Gallery (2-10-8 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Tel. 03-5203-2800)

Dates: March 28 (Sat) - May 16 (Sat), 2026 Closed on Sundays, Mondays, and national holidays

From the page featuring "Untitled" (2000)

◎About Kyuryudo

Kyuryudo, founded in 1923, is an art book publisher that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. The company name Kyuryu (求龍), taken from the French "CURIEUX," means "seeking artistic or intellectual curiosity" and "always seeking the new." The name was given by the painter Ryuzaburo Umehara. Seeking ideals in the "dragon" of the East, and soaring freely through the clouds of time, Kyuryudo continues its publishing journey to unearth new springs of beauty, from traditional aesthetics to art picture books.

【Company Profile】

Company Name: Kyuryudo Co., Ltd.

Head Office Location: Bunshun Shin-kan 1F, 3-23 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative Director: Kinya Adachi

Founded: 1923

Business Activities: Publishing art and lifestyle-related books, planning and producing art prints, buying and selling art

HP: https://www.kyuryudo.co.jp/