Yoshio’s style is known as ‘super-realism’, which he describes as ‘capturing a moment of active movement on the canvas’. To create a photo-like effect in his paintings, Yoshio paints many thin coats of each colour, simultaneously creating depth, lustre and translucency. This detailed technique requires precision and patience, and perhaps as a result is rarely seen nowadays. Yoshio paints both portraits and landscapes, and often depicts Kabuki and Noh performers, as well as fantasy and abstract scenes.

Interestingly, Setsuko’s style, with its quick bold strokes, is almost the complete opposite of Yoshio’s. Setsuko mainly paints still life subjects and landscapes, and says of her work that it ‘sublimates what she can see with her minds’ eye’.

Experience this unique world of super-realism, with its blend of Western style painting and Japanese and Antipodean themes, through Yoshio and Setsuko’s paintings.