​About
Katsura Suzuki

I've always had a passion for drawing. In my twenties, I decided to use the pen name "Rie" when writing poetry and creating artwork. Although I had practiced calligraphy for years, starting oil painting and larger-scale artwork was a dream I vaguely entertained, waiting for the right time to emerge as I aged.

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Then, in March 1999, my mother passed away suddenly. The days blurred with funeral arrangements, and even after returning to Switzerland, I felt a gaping hole in my heart. A year passed, and still, the void remained. I felt the need to heal myself. In my forties, I finally began to paint larger artworks. My mother's sudden death at 63 made me realize the importance of not leaving things undone. One of those things I had always postponed with a "someday" mentality was painting.

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From midnight to dawn, I painted numerous oil paintings on canvas. I depicted landscapes that had deeply moved me, portraits of loved ones, abstract fantasies, and more. Playing with various colors on large canvases, I felt my soul being soothed. In life, there are events beyond our control that affect us all. For me, painting became a form of salvation. Even my young daughter, who was small at the time, began to enjoy painting with me.

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The reasons why painting with various colors heals the soul include:

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•⁠  ⁠Creativity and expression
•⁠  ⁠Concentration and mindfulness
•⁠  ⁠Sense of achievement and satisfaction

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After painting prolifically for 1-2 years, I ran out of wall space to hang them, and gradually, I stopped painting. However, I still feel that painting was a form of therapy during those times.

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I eventually had the opportunity to exhibit my paintings. A British friend, a ceramic artist, asked me to send photos of my paintings. Suddenly, she suggested, "Why not exhibit these paintings at an art show from April 11th to 14th?" The exhibition would take place at Altstadt Halle Zürich, featuring artworks from nine artists.

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Additionally, for those unable to attend in person, I arranged for the gallery to provide a glimpse of the exhibition online. (Limi did an incredible job creating the website at lightning speed.)

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Initially, I included the paintings for exhibition along with my existing portfolio.

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At Rie's Atelier, I aim to showcase various forms of art, including:

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•⁠  ⁠Photographs I've taken
•⁠  ⁠Books I've written
•⁠  ⁠Scrolls (Kakejiku) 
•⁠  ⁠Tea ceremony utensils
•⁠  ⁠Beloved stones, and more.