The Picturesque World
of Kazu Wakita

On September 23, within Sofia Paper Art Fest 2025, and as part of the 36th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria, the exhibition “The Picturesque World of Kazu Wakita (1908–2005)” was opened. The exhibition presents original prints by one of the most significant Japanese artists of the 20th century, including rare drawings of birds, published in a bibliophile edition.
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About the artist:
Kazu Wakita (1908–2005) is a prominent Japanese painter and printmaker, whose work is deeply connected with nature and the world of birds. As a child he mastered the traditional sumi-e technique (ink painting), and later developed a unique artistic language in which drawing is not a preparatory stage, but a complete work of art.

His memories from childhood in Tokyo – where his home was surrounded by a forest and a large lake inhabited by grebes, ducks and cranes – remain a lasting inspiration. Wakita shares: “Drawing must be more than a sketch – it must be a complete work.” Birds, which became a main motif in his work, are not just images, but symbolize the deep connection between man and nature.
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The exhibition will continue until October 14, 2025 and is open to a wide audience.

Sofia Paper Art Fest 2025 is realized with the financial support of: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria, Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria, Program “Visual Arts” of the Ministry of Culture, Cultural Events Calendar of Sofia Municipality for 2025 and Nihon Tomono Kai.