Nanzuka Underground is pleased to present the solo exhibition of Hajime Sorayama (1947-). Sorayama graduated from Chubi Central Art School in Tokyo in 1969 and first spent some time working with an advertising company. Since 1972 when he became a freelance, he has been a legendary artist armed with his astounding reali metallicity stic techniques. His works of female images, pursuing of robot and eroticism are well known both inside and outside of Japan. This reputation was initially established in 1978 with the work series entitled “Sexy Robot”, which shocked people throughout the world for his artful depictions of sensual metallic qualities and reflected light. In 1999, he won both the Good Design Grand Prize from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Media Arts Festival Grand Prize from the Agency from Cultural Affairs for his work with Sony on the concept design for their entertainment robot AIBO. In 2001, Sorayama received another prize for this invention, this time from the Asahi newspaper, and in this same year the 1st generation AIBO was added to the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum of Modern Art. As if that weren’t enough, the internationally famous rock band Aerosmith collaborated with Sorayama on the artwork for the cover of their 2001 album Just Push Play.
He has won respect from artists worldwide as the Godfather of airbrush technique. Sorayama says, “In pursuit of hyper-realism, I use the airbrush in a way that naturally depicts minute details of human skin, lips, eyeballs, hair, even individual body hair, or the feel of leather or silk clothes, the metallicity of the robot, the reflection of light...” Regarding the possibilities of realistic painting, he has said, “I can make characters with acrobatic postures, which is absolutely impossible with photographs, or costumes that don’t exist in reality. In addition, I can modify the body freely even which is not anatomically correct, or composite to a beautiful woman according to my taste.” Surely we can say that through his insatiable pursuit of aesthetic sense, he has generated something new.
Sorayama comments that he hates the word of “art”, and he puts himself in the same line with the pioneers of American pin-up illustrators such as George Brown Petty, Gil Elvgren, and Alberto Vargas. “There is no stories in my pictures. The models exist on their own, in a self-determined state of completion. Therefore, I think my work still belongs to the paradigm of pin-up art.” - Hajime Sorayama It may be different depending on each person how to associate Sorayama’s image as an artist. If his artisan spirit that seeks to perfect his craft and career is considered, he’s categorized as an illustrator. On the other hand, if he is considered as a pioneer of airbrush technique, a charisma of his robot paintings and of nude portraits, we have a more expansive view of his image. The global art scene is still now continuing to explore the possibilities. 21st century modern art has taken up the challenge of uncovering the relation between art and design, commodities and art, and daily life and beauty. A clear answer has yet to be found, but the existence of Sorayama could possibly provide one of the answers.
This exhibition will display 10 excellent pieces carefully selected from his extensive 40-year career. A reception party with Sorayama will be held on Saturday, May 22nd. Our sincerest anticipation in seeing you all at the exhibition.
Opening Reception: 2010.5.22, Sat, 6 - 8 pm
