From Directly Above a World of -20°C: Aerial Fine Art Brand "KAIE Art" Launches, Capturing Hokkaido's Frozen Rivers as "Abstract Paintings"

KAIE Tours (Representative: Ippei Inaba), a company operating canoe tours in Betsukai Town, Hokkaido, has launched "KAIE Art," an aerial fine art brand that photographs the frozen rivers and wetlands of eastern Hokkaido from directly above. The official website (https://art.kaie-net.com/) has also been released. The artworks are sold through the international art platform "Saatchi Art," and large-format prints are available for corporate spaces such as hotels and offices.

From the ground, it's just a frozen river. From directly above, it's an abstract painting.

The shooting location is the easternmost edge of Hokkaido—the Doto region. In mid-winter, temperatures in Doto drop from -10°C to -20°C. During the coldest period, a drone is flown up to an altitude of approximately 50 meters, looking straight down. What appears as a mere frozen river from the ground transforms into an abstract painting created by ice, water, and light the moment it is viewed from above. KAIE Art's works are a series that captures only this "moment when the boundary between landscape photography and abstract art disappears."

A Shot Only Possible with "Eyes Living in This Land"

The photographer for KAIE Art is a guide who runs a canoe tour in Doto. They spend their days on the river and know which rivers, at what times of year, and what kind of ice appears—they photograph at a timing unique to those who live in the land, which is impossible for photographers visiting as tourists. It is a small brand where everything from drone aerial photography to tour guiding is handled by one person.

This Summer, a Moment of Coolness

The theme of the official website is "Beyond the Screen Lies Hokkaido. A World of -20°C." To deliver the freezing stillness of eastern Hokkaido precisely during this season of intense heat, the release was timed for summer. On the site, in addition to the 5 works currently on sale, you can enjoy a gallery presentation where 52 aerial photographs slowly rotate. It supports three languages: Japanese, English, and Arabic.

About Sales

• Works on Sale: 5 pieces (scheduled for sequential addition)

• How to Purchase: International art platform Saatchi Art (https://www.saatchiart.com/kaie-aerial)

• Specifications: Fine Art Print (Original resolution 8000×6000px, landscape 4:3). Worldwide shipping available.

• For Corporate/Interior Use: Large-format prints for hotels, villas, clinics, and offices (80×60 / 120×90 / 140×105cm). Supports custom sizes, signed limited editions, and Certificates of Authenticity (COA). A PDF catalog of the works is available on the official website.

Inquiries regarding this matter

KAIE Art Contact: Ippei Inaba

E-mail: [email protected]