“Clear blue summer sky, over waves that move unseen, deep in silent breath. But then I fear that the light, will sink into shades of death.”100 × 120 cm
“This world of dewdrops, this fleeting world of dewdrops, and yet… and yet”100 × 100 cm
“As does the pheasant, when the day ends also I, go to rest alone. Long as the cock pheasant’s tail, will the hours of my night be.”100 × 100 cmSweden, 1947
I am Dr. Eric Jung—an artist, specialist physician, and classical poet living and working with one foot firmly planted in both Western and Asian cultures.
My work is deeply rooted in the dialogue between these two worlds, shaped by a dual heritage and a lifelong devotion to museums and galleries. While I spent the first chapter of my life as a consultant physician trained at the prestigious Karolinska Institute, art has been my constant companion since childhood. This deep medical understanding of human vulnerability, anatomy, and existence heavily informs the psychological depth and curiosity about the origin of being that underlies my creative practice today.
Though largely an autodidact, my technical evolution has been shaped by a nomadic, hands-on apprenticeship under a global network of mentors. My artistic foundations were formed during my youth in Japan through encounters with members of the famous Kamakura group, alongside study under master calligraphy sensei Nakamura Soubaku in the hot spring town of Kusatsu Onzen. Over the years, my visual language was further expanded by the guidance of artists in Thailand and Europe.
After transitioning to art full-time over a decade ago, my focus evolved from the tangible to the contemplative. My early works centered on the natural world—landscapes, seascapes, figurative art, and portraiture—but my practice has since shifted toward the evocative.
Today, I create paintings inspired by Japanese poetry, improvised works that blend realism with abstraction, and pieces that explore the absurdities of life and the internal landscapes of the mind. I prioritize capturing the essence of a memory or an idea over rigid stylistic consistency.
As a writer, I operate under the pen name Kumanoyama, given to me by my sensei. I compose poetry in both the Japanese classical style and the traditions of the Taisho era, crafting non-literal English translations designed to preserve their deep spiritual essence for the Western mind. This cross-cultural synthesis of fine calligraphic script and conceptual environments was recognized in 2025, when I was awarded at the London Art Biennale for my abstract-realistic illustration of the classical poem “Nagaraeba.”
As for my paintings, I welcome the viewer to step into a cross-cultural landscape that is at once visually pristine, deeply disciplined, and profoundly psychological.