“Kujaku” (2018), which depicts a peacock, measures 240 x 175 cm and is Sasada’s largest work to date

Armed with a collection of ultra-thin 0.3 mm colored pens, Japanese artist Yasuto Sasada creates dense and imaginative compositions that often blend elements of mythology, technology and fantasy. At a recent exhibition in Tokyo, some of his latest and largest works were on display.

孔雀 (“Kujaku,” or peacock)

Born in 1985, Sasada has been active as an artist since 2000. But his big break came in 2014 when he collaborated with Yohji Yamamoto to incorporate elements of his work into the fashion designer’s autumn/winter collection.

“My paintings purport to relay the concept of reviving life into living creatures,” says Sasada. Look closely and you’ll notice that he often incorporates mechanical elements into his subjects. “This is my message of ‘life’ towards all living creatures.” Sasada’s work was on display in Tokyo last week in an exhibition titled WINGS. The name borrowed visually from his largest painting to date Kujaku (“peacock” in Japanese) which measured 240 x 175 cm (7.8 x 5.7 ft).

The video below provides a glimpse into the making of “Kujaku.”

“Ninja Girl”

“Food Fighter”

戦う女 (“fighting girl”)

仏像 (“Buddhist image”)

サムライの背中 (“The back of a Samurai”)

“Power Spot”