Etsuko Aiba (饗場悦子)

Etsuko AIBA is a Japanese artist whose work explores the subtle patterns of wave energy found in nature—on water surfaces, in deserts, and in tree rings. Through these natural rhythms, she captures the passage of time and the invisible forces shaping our world. Her paintings have been exhibited in Japan and China, and in recent years, she has gained international attention. AIBA’s practice is rooted in traditional Japanese painting techniques, using natural materials such as mineral pigments, gold leaf, gofun (shell powder), and ink. She incorporates the Momigami technique—crumpling and pressing paper—to create depth and texture, giving each work a tactile quality that mirrors the layered nature of time and memory. For AIBA, nature is not just a theme but a medium. She sees the artist as a vessel, much like the wind that leaves unseen traces on water and sand. Her aim is to faithfully channel the energy and spirit of nature into her work, offering viewers a quiet space within the ongoing flow of life. Born in 1982 in Yamanashi, she studied Japanese painting at Kyoto University of the Arts, where she received the Departmental Award in 2005. She later studied Chinese landscape painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and deepened her connection to East Asian art through work at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. AIBA has exhibited in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Yamanashi, as well as in Beijing, Shanghai, Dunhuang, and other cities in China. In 2023, she was named Painter of the Year by Singulart in France, and her recent participation in KAG vol.01 in Berlin marked another step in her growing international presence. Through her art, AIBA invites reflection on impermanence, nature, and our place within its quiet but powerful rhythms.