Painter Yugo Koguri Talks About Nature and Art | あさま空山望 5th Anniversary Story – Vol. 02
"あさま空山望," located at the foot of Mount Asama and surrounded by lush nature.
As we celebrate our 5th anniversary, we’ll be speaking with people who have been connected to this place in various ways to hear about their experiences at あさま空山望 and the moments they hold dear.
We spoke with painter Yugo Kōrogi, who participated in the あさま空山望 Artist-in-Residence Program.
I stayed at the foot of Mount Asama for about a month, creating my artwork while observing the mountain’s ever-changing expressions and the natural scenery.
We asked him about what spending time in an environment different from his usual one brought to his creative work, as well as the inspiration he drew from Mount Asama.
Yugo Kohrogi
Painter, born in Kumamoto in 1982
Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts—Completed the program
Her work focuses on capturing the subtle beauty hidden in everyday life and nature by exploring the flickering of light, the shifting of colors, and the very act of “seeing.” She has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Japan; her most recent solo exhibitions were “Longing for the Transient” at the Seiriki Art Museum (Fukuoka) and “Fluctus” at the Kyoto Tsutaya Gallery, both held in 2025. She continues to pursue her artistic career vigorously, having received the Excellence Award at the Fukuoka Art Award in 2025.
Table of Contents
The Boundary Between Nature and Beauty — Art in Nature −
30 Days in the Great Outdoors
How did you spend your time during the approximately one-month period at あさま空山望?
I spent each day trying to distance myself as much as possible from the hustle and bustle of daily life, hoping to use this time as an opportunity for introspection. I also undertook research on the culture, customs, and local character of the surrounding area, using Mount Asama as my starting point, and attempted to incorporate these findings into my work.
Please tell us about any scenery or moments that left a lasting impression on you during your stay.
During this trip, I made it a daily routine to observe the sunset over Mount Asama.
At first, when it rained, I didn’t see any changes in color, so it felt like a letdown. But then I realized that the rain caused the atmosphere to shift, and I found it truly beautiful to watch the clouds move dynamically and change shape.
Also, on the morning after a rainy day, I was able to see a sea of clouds covering the foothills of Mount Asama, visible from the facility, and I was overwhelmed by the ever-changing beauty of nature.
Could you tell us about the themes and highlights of the works being exhibited this time?
Title: “Λ 01”
I believe “Λ” appears when you type “Lambda.” I chose it as the title for this work—which deals with color gradients (wavelengths of light)—because the symbol evokes the image of a mountain and, in physics, represents wavelength.
As this series expands in the future, the titles will become "Λ 02" and "Λ 03."
I painted this piece inspired by the sunrise and sunset views from the "Path to the Sky" on the hill at あさま空山望.
Even when I gaze at it every day, the colors and the expressions of the clouds are never the same; they are constantly shifting and changing, and I feel as though my own sense of color has expanded as a result.
It seems that about 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, the area around Mount Asama was a vast lake, but I believe that the earth—and this world—is constantly undergoing gradual change.
I would be delighted if, through this work, I could share with someone else both the beauty of the sunset that someone felt long ago and the emotions I experienced during this stay.
Call for Applications: “あさま空山望 | 2nd Artist-in-Residence Program”
The landscape of Mount Asama changes moment by moment. The works created while observing these daily transformations reflect the natural beauty of this land, captured through Mr. Kogori’s unique perspective.
In addition, as an opportunity to interact with local residents during our stay, an oil painting workshop was held for us.
At あさま空山望, we will continue our Artist-in-Residence program to foster new creative opportunities where nature and art intersect.
We are currently accepting applications from artists for the second program, which will take place during the winter season, through Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Selected artists will spend approximately one month in Kitakaruizawa, surrounded by snowy landscapes, working on their art. The works created during the residency are scheduled to be exhibited in a solo show held at the facility.
5th Anniversary Story
To celebrate the 5th anniversary of あさま空山望, we’ll be sharing messages from people who have been involved with this site once a month.
Please look forward to the next installment of our 5th Anniversary Story.
