Shintaro Miyake’s Pencils Colour outside the Lines

This 48-year-old Japanese artist has a very distinct pencil stroke. Known for drawing while wearing handmade costumes, he transcribes his vision of the world through different means of expression such as drawing, performance and video.

His large-scale creations don’t necessarily tell a story, but rather represent characters, a moment or a feeling, and the heroes he draws stand out from the rest thanks to their often oval-shaped heads and gaping mouths. Shintaro cites a wide range of influences, from Salvador Dali to the artists whose work is displayed at the Museum Gugging in Austria. His style, at once simple, meticulous and packed with nuances, pleases viewers with its candour and sincerity.