Rie Koizumi’s deserted interiors show the beauty in solitude
With sketchy lines and myriad of soft colours, the Tokyo-based illustrator shows daily life at its most peaceful.
Share
Viewing one of Rie Koizumi’s charming illustrations is like pausing on your favourite scene from a film, or returning to a page of your most-loved childhood storybook. This makes sense when hearing that Rie's biggest creative influences are the creator of Miffy Dick Bruna and celebrated film director Wes Anderson.
Mainly showing deserted scenes – an empty classroom or recently vacated dining room, for example – Rie once in a while pops a solitary figure or two into her works. These compositions come from Rie’s observational personality: "I enjoy imagining how and what kind of people live in that place from the streets, someone's belongings, or someone's small gestures,” she says. While her works may have such a unified aesthetic, Rie doesn’t restrict herself to one medium, sometimes working in analogue with coloured pencils, and sometimes on her iPad. But it's safe to say that, whatever tools she chooses, Rie’s illustrations are always sure to induce a serious case of sweet, peaceful nostalgia.
Rie Koizumi: Old piano (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Alvar Aalto’s seat (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Village life (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Flowers in the midnight sun (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Old piano (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Cafe (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Night train heading north (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Office (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Hill road (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Rie Koizumi: Finland (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Hero Header
Rie Koizumi: Atelier (Copyright © Rie Koizumi, 2022)
Share Article
Further Info
About the Author
—
Olivia (she/her) joined the It’s Nice That team as an editorial assistant in November 2021 and soon became staff writer. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in English literature and history, she’s particularly interested in photography, publications and type design.