Riusuke Fukahori and his 3D paintings

Riusuke Fukahori is a Japanese artist that challenges the world of art by combining his work with digital mediums, without actually using any of them.

He, in fact, uses the illusion of computer graphic and 3D to create incredible traditional paintings.

In his series of fish tanks, he reinvents the traditional techniques of craftsmanship by using simplicity and subtlety, creating realistic works. He usually paints inside the containers, the ''water'' is made of transparent acrylic resin, and once that is dry, the artist paints over it the elements that are closer to the bottom and after that he passes another layer and so on, until he creates many levels of paint. The peculiarity of using so many layers is that it allows him to use the light and create shadows that give a sense of 3D to the artwork, especially when it's seen from a particular perspective.
His work is incredibly precise and requires a firm hand and a lot of patience, but also love for the practice. The inspiration for this series of paintings came after a period of ''block'' for the artist, during which Fukahori became almost obsessed with his little golden fish, that he unfortunately neglected for something close to seven years, but that was still miraculously alive. In awe of such an incredible and elegant creature, he felt the need to start painting it.
Since then, Fukahori prefers to paint animals that live underwater, like fishes and turtles, receiving the title of 'artist of illusory aquariums'.
"I think of gold fish as a living sculpture with man-made modifications. It never reaches the completed form, the goldfish vulnerability and imperfections brings out our motherly instinct.

I've been bewitched with the strong energy of the life of goldfish, which has inherited mutation for more than 1500 years, continuously changing forms by man's hands. I've been depicting thousands of goldfish in my works, but the mysterious pull towards goldfish will never die to me. The impulse of exploration, "What are goldfish" drives me to create more.

Where and how they want to swim, and what they think; these are the questions that I've been asking myself when I paint goldfish.

I believe this process will help breathe life into the goldfish in my works.", Fukahori explains.
His first solo exhibition, named 'The Painted Breath', is currently visible at the Joshua Liner Gallery in New York until the 18th of January.