Carl Randall’s detailed paintings depict the frenetic and crowded nature of Japan

Carl Randall’s work draws upon his time living in Japan. The British-born artist spent several years there and used painting to depict his experiences of everyday life in contemporary Japan, as seen through the eyes of a “foreign artist”.

His large-scale paintings detail a sea of faces and busy scenes with an unusual perspective. There’s depth and shadow in each of his portraits, yet the landscapes his characters reside in feel intriguingly 2D in the angle they’ve been painted from.

His paintings are strongest in colour, where Carl is able to communicate the vibrancy and hectic nature of Japan and the different cities he’s lived in. The artist captures traditional aspects of Japanese culture like sumo wrestling matches and ornate fish ponds and gardens, but contrasts them with more modern facets such as theme parks, outdoor club nights and packed sushi restaurants. The artist also documents the morning commute, portraying the swell of people that frequent Tokyo’s public transport network as non-plussed floating faces.