Artists Represented - Kiyoko Yamaguchi

How I draw architecture

I first learnt how to draw buildings when I studied architecture. Soon after, graphic software and digital camera rapidly developed, and the importance of hand-depicted architectural perspectives seemed to lose its importance. However, since I didn’t become an architectural professional, I never kept up with the contemporary computer-aided design skills; and thus I (could) keep drawing by hand.

In 2002-2003, I had plenty of time when I lived alone in Cebu, Philippines. While interviewing the residents of “Ancestral Homes” built in American colonial period for my dissertation, I suddenly came up with an idea - maybe I should draw these mansions; not photo. I should draw.

Drawing architecture with care takes time but makes me understand how the materials joined, and enables me to imagine about the people who initially built it a century ago, who renovated it after inheritance, and who actually live there now. I add people, cars, trees, and signs, making the drawing livelier than technical perspectives. It’s graphical, but not actual. It’s not bad to have a townscape graphically based on real world but not actually there.

In society and in each person’s life, there are various issues, but I don’t aim to express the problems or to provoke a debate through my drawings. No matter what happens in outside world, or inside myself, once I get into drawing, I have no negative nor even positive feelings. It’s only through drawing I can reach this feeling (or no-feeling). Because mountains are there, some people climb them; because these buildings are there, they make me to draw.

There is no need to search the social context or artistic message in my drawings as the artist draw without intricate concepts. I would be happy if I could share this very simple happiness I feel after I sign and look over the small and colourful townscape on paper. It’s a subtle, delightful, imagined real world. I will keep drawing the corners where people know, not so special, quite ordinary, yet with charm and local attachment.

Kiyoko Yamaguchi, February 2015

Kiyoto Yamaguchi specializes in drawing historic buildings in watercolour. While doing the detailed rendering and colouring each space, she always thinks and feels as if she is constructing the architecture or the scenery.

Born and raised in the historic Kyoto-Shiga area in Japan, Kiyoko derives inspiration for her works from the people and the architectural structures of her hometown.

She says, when drawing she captures the building structures first, then she adds in colours and life to the painting making it more realistic. Her aim is to express a simplified happiness around the old streets, in the midst of contemporary changes.

Kiyoko Yamaguchi received her bachelor degree in Architecture from University of California at Berkeley and her doctorate degree from Kyoto University focusing on Southeast Asian architectural history. She lived and worked in Japan, the United States, the Philippines, and France before arriving in Hong Kong in 2006.

Education
2005	Ph.D. in Southeast Asian Studies - History of Architecture and Urban Planning in Southeast Asia, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
1997	Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (Honors), College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley, USA
1996	Transferred to University of California, Berkeley, USA from Bachelor of Science-Engineering, student in Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
1994-96	Studied as student in Architecture, Bachelor of Science-Engineering at Faculty of Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Selected Exhibitions
2018	"City Narratives", Solo Exhibition, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
2017	"Memories", Group Exhibition, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
2015	"Kaleidoscope", Group Exhibition, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
2014	"Hong Kong Sketchbook", Solo Exhibition, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
	Asia Hotel Art Fair, Marco Polo Hotel, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
2013	Asia Contemporary Art Show 2013, JW Marriott Hotel, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
	"Small Is Good", Group Exhibition, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
	"Paris Summer", Solo Exhibition, Alliance Francaise de Hong Kong, Hong Kong
	"Cafes a Paris", Solo Exhibition, Nisimura's Caffe and Bar, Hong Kong
	Hong Kong ArtWalk 2013, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
	Asia Hotel Art Fair, Mandarin Hotel, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
	"Architecture Sketch-book: Drawings by Kiyoko Yamaguchi", Solo Exhibition, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
2012	"Hong Kong and Kyoto", Solo Exhibition, Yueh Chiao Art Gallery, Shaw College, Hong Kong
	University of Hong Kong Main Building Centennial
	Postcard and Stationary Design, Tung Wah Hospital Museum 40th Anniversary, Hong Kong
	Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Art Beatus Gallery, Hong Kong
2009	Cafe Decoration and Stationary Design for NPOs (BonFire and Breakthrough)
2008	Stationary Design for Shaw College, CUHK
2007	Kiyoto Yamaguchi, Solo Exhibition: Watercolour Sketches, "Paris and Hong Kong", Yueh Chiao Art Gallery, Shaw College, Hong Kong
2003-06	Annual Poster Design, Nippon Foundation Fellowship for the Asian Public Intellectuals (API)
2005	Illustration of an Arabic Language Textbook, Osaka City University Extension Course
	Painting of Meiji Period Cotton Factory, Prize, Kusunoki Painting Contest, Kyoto University
	Postcard Design, Center for Southeast Asian Studies 40th Anniversary, Kyoto University
	Kiyoko Yamaguchi, Solo Exhibition, "Paris d'ètè" (part of the 14-juillet French National Day Ceremony), Institut franco-japonaise du Kansai, Kyoto
	Illustrations and Cover Design of a cookbook, Soothing Thai Cuisine (Lakkana Punwichai et al. Tokyo: Mekong Publishing)
2004-05	Illustrations, Prize, "Scenery with books" annual contest, Japan Bookstore Association
2004	Painting of Apartment in Yangon, Myanmar, Prize, Annual Art Competition, The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo
Awards
2020	"Mt. Fuji, from Meguro/Shinagawa, Tokyo", 25^th Mt. Fuji Drawing Competition, Fujinomiya City, Grand Prix
2018	"Mojiko Station", Fukuoka Prefecture Urban Planning Department 21st "Beautiful Fukuoka Scenery" Competition, Silver Award
	"Mt Fuji", Tokyo Postcard Award 2018 Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo Customers' Award
2016	"Kyoto Roof", UK Royal Watercolour Society 2016 Competition, Selected
2014	"Rome", UK Royal Watercolour Society 2014 Competition, Selected
2004-05	"Demachi-yanagi", Monmartre", Japan Bookstore Association Competition, Selected
2004	"Apartment in Yangon", Ueno Royal Art Museum Competition, Selected
Artist Statement How I draw architecture I first learnt how to draw buildings when I studied architecture. Soon after, graphic software and digital camera rapidly developed, and the importance of hand-depicted architectural perspectives seemed to lose its importance. However, since I didn’t become an architectural professional, I never kept up with the contemporary computer-aided design skills; and thus I (could) keep drawing by hand. In 2002-2003, I had plenty of time when I lived alone in Cebu, Philippines. While interviewing the residents of “Ancestral Homes” built in American colonial period for my dissertation, I suddenly came up with an idea - maybe I should draw these mansions; not photo. I should draw. Drawing architecture with care takes time but makes me understand how the materials joined, and enables me to imagine about the people who initially built it a century ago, who renovated it after inheritance, and who actually live there now. I add people, cars, trees, and signs, making the drawing livelier than technical perspectives. It’s graphical, but not actual. It’s not bad to have a townscape graphically based on real world but not actually there. In society and in each person’s life, there are various issues, but I don’t aim to express the problems or to provoke a debate through my drawings. No matter what happens in outside world, or inside myself, once I get into drawing, I have no negative nor even positive feelings. It’s only through drawing I can reach this feeling (or no-feeling). Because mountains are there, some people climb them; because these buildings are there, they make me to draw. There is no need to search the social context or artistic message in my drawings as the artist draw without intricate concepts. I would be happy if I could share this very simple happiness I feel after I sign and look over the small and colourful townscape on paper. It’s a subtle, delightful, imagined real world. I will keep drawing the corners where people know, not so special, quite ordinary, yet with charm and local attachment. Kiyoko Yamaguchi, February 2015 Kiyoto Yamaguchi specializes in drawing historic buildings in watercolour. While doing the detailed rendering and colouring each space, she always thinks and feels as if she is constructing the architecture or the scenery. Born and raised in the historic Kyoto-Shiga area in Japan, Kiyoko derives inspiration for her works from the people and the architectural structures of her hometown. She says, when drawing she captures the building structures first, then she adds in colours and life to the painting making it more realistic. Her aim is to express a simplified happiness around the old streets, in the midst of contemporary changes. Kiyoko Yamaguchi received her bachelor degree in Architecture from University of California at Berkeley and her doctorate degree from Kyoto University focusing on Southeast Asian architectural history. She lived and worked in Japan, the United States, the Philippines, and France before arriving in Hong Kong in 2006.
For further information, please contact: Canada: tel: (1) 604.688.2633, fax: (1) 604.688.2685