Profile

Born the second son of Nambata Tatsuoki, a proponent of Japanese abstract painting, Fumio created numerous works full of acutely intricate lines and a profound color palette. Attention already focused on his works in both solo and group exhibitions, but his life was still full of promise when it tragically ended at age 32. The works remaining from his career of barely 15 years number about 2,000, primarily watercolors with some oils and prints. As a painter cut off in his prime, a youthful painter, his popularity is still deep-rooted, and led to the 2008 publication of extracts from his voluminous diaries (Terminus, Space Station, Genki Shobo). This tome and other sources continue to shed new light on his thoughts and oeuvre.