Karifurav Caihua’s weirdly erotic Japanese-inspired illustrations

Date
23 June 2017

Thank god for Instagram: it’s where we found Karifurav Caihua, a mysteriously ungoogleable freelance illustrator currently working across illustration, graphic design, murals and print. Karifurav’s multi-coloured illustrations border on the grotesque (with a liberal sprinkling of serpent heads and decapitation). Sex drips across Karifurav’s canvasses visualised in penis noses or women with countless breasts.

“My specialty is drawing characters," the illustrator tells us. “All my illustrations I am starting to design from a manual hand sketch. I use mostly ink or a pen then selected sketches are processed in computer or hand-painted. I like drawing weird and twisted characters.” From Siamese twins to acid trips, Karifurav’s references run thick, fast and frequently off-kilter.

Although currently a traveller in Europe, it’s unsurprising – given the illustrator’s heavy use of Japanese characters – to learn that Karifurav’s creative inspiration comes from overseas. “I have always been interested in Japanese art,” Karifurav explains. “I love old woodcuts where I often get inspiration for my works. I am also interested in art and contemporary illustration. I also draw inspiration from old posters and album covers.”

Next month, Karifurav tells us, will be spent painting a mural during “the biggest festival in Poland” and, in September, the artist is planning to paint a mural in Jerusalem “on a new museum wall”. "I’m also fascinated with electronic music and I’m going to release my own album at the end of the year,” Karifurav adds.

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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Karifurav Caihua

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About the Author

Bryony Stone

Bryony joined It's Nice That as Deputy Editor in August 2016, following roles at Mother, Secret Cinema, LAW, Rollacoaster and Wonderland. She later became Acting Editor at It's Nice That, before leaving in late 2018.

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