Hirako Yuichi

Hirako creates paintings and sculptures that effortlessly reflect his everyday sensibilities and unique worldview. While his works seem lively, easygoing, and cheerful on the surface, they are characterized by a gaze that interrogates the curious relationship between the environment, social issues, and the artist’s own life. His works defy easy interpretation, containing twists, refractions, and a considerable dystopian streak. For the exhibition, Hirako has installed works in the beautifully framed windows of traditional buildings in the historical Iwase district, turning the local cityscape into a mechanism for his own narratives. His paintings and sculptures punctuate the landscape, creating a space where reality and fantasy intermingle.

プロフィール

b. 1982 in Okayama Prefecture. Hirako completed a BFA in painting at the Wimbledon College of Arts in 2006. His recent solo exhibitions include Inheritance, Metamorphosis, Rebirth (Nerima Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022) and The Nature (Modern Institute, Glasgow, 2023). His works are included in the collections of the Long Museum (Shanghai) and the Powerlong Museum (Shanghai).

[Past work] “Gift 01,” 2020, acrylic on canvas. Private collection. Photo: Sakamoto Osamu, courtesy of Kotaro Nukaga

[Past work] “Gift 14,” 2021, acrylic on canvas. Private collection. Photo: Sakamoto Osamu, courtesy of Kotaro Nukaga

[Past work] “Wooden Wood 02,” 2022, acrylic on wood (9 pieces). Private collection. Photo: Sakamoto Osamu, courtesy of Kotaro Nukaga

[Past work] “Gift 14,” 2021, acrylic on canvas. Private collection. Photo: Sakamoto Osamu, courtesy of Kotaro Nukaga

[Past work] “Wooden Wood 02,” 2022, acrylic on wood (9 pieces). Private collection. Photo: Sakamoto Osamu, courtesy of Kotaro Nukaga