Atsushi Kaga – Cucumber Horse and Aubergine Cow

Cast mixed media* sculpture by Japanese contemporary artist Atsushi Kaga titled “Cucumber Horse and Aubergine Cow”. Complete set of 2 – one of 30 limited editions from 2023. Accompanied by a hand-signed & hand-numbered COA by the artist, and an ARR Certification Card. Comes in the original custom-made wooden box.

* While specific details beyond “mixed media” are not widely documented in public archives, the physical appearance indicates that this sculpture is hand-crafted from high-density resin (or a similar polymer clay compound) and hand-painted, with the “legs” made from wooden chopsticks.

Overall size:

Rabbit: W26 x D8 x H25 cm
Bear: W17 x D10 x H25 cm

Atsushi Kaga (born 1978, Tokyo, Japan) is a celebrated contemporary artist whose work bridges the gap between Japanese Pop art, European Dadaism, and the sublime. Currently living and working between Dublin, Ireland, and Kyoto, Japan, Kaga possesses an aesthetically bilingual style. His practice expertly blends the perspectival depth and chiaroscuro techniques of European tradition with the flat, linear precision characteristic of East Asian art. This unique synthesis of cultures has made Kaga a standout figure in the international contemporary art scene.

Central to Kaga’s artistic practice is his iconic alter-ego, Usatchi – a rabbit with minimalist features who first emerged during the artist’s graduate exhibition twenty years ago. The name “Usatchi” serves as a clever bridge between the Japanese word for rabbit, usagi, and the artist’s own name, Atsushi. More than a simple avatar, Usatchi acts as a philosophical truth-sayer and a benign observer of the cosmos. Through this character, Kaga gently subverts the myth of the hyper-masculine artistic genius, offering a sincere and humorous exploration of identity, meaning, and beauty.

Atsushi Kaga holds a BA in Fine Art from the National College of Art & Design in Dublin. His significant contributions to contemporary art have been recognised through major solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions, including the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Dublin, the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. His works have also featured in prominent group exhibitions at the Tokyo National Museum, Galerie Haas in Zurich, and the Powerlong Art Museum. With an extensive history of international residencies across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, including a residency at the Headlands Centre for the Arts in 2026, Kaga remains a vital voice in modern painting. His commitment to the pursuit of beauty ensures his status as a key contemporary painter to watch.