

YUYA HASHIZUME
Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1983. Activities are currently based in Tokyo. His works have been exhibited through self-planned exhibitions since 2016. Large-scale solo exhibitions were held at Spiral Garden in Tokyo in 2022 and in Seoul, Korea in 2023. He held exhibitions regularly in his hometown of Okayama, striving to make continuous contributions to the development of the region.
EYEWATER VER. SPACE SUIT
YUYA HASHIZUME: SPOTLIGHT
YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY BEGAN WITH SELF-PLANNED EXHIBITIONS IN 2016. WHAT PROMPTED THIS INDEPENDENT APPROACH, AND HOW HAS IT SHAPED YOUR CAREER?
In 2016, I was an unknown newcomer. I had no choice but to organize an exhibition myself. Around this time, SNS became more active in the Japanese public.
My popularity has gradually increased thanks to the publicity on SNS by visitors. This gave me confidence and courage.
YOUR WORK HAS A DISTINCTIVE STYLE, WITH BOLD COLORS AND ALMOST GRAPHIC ELEMENTS. HOW DID THIS STYLE EVOLVE, AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH IT?
I've always liked things like the works I create, so my current style naturally came to me. I don't have anything in particular that I want to convey to the audience through my style. I draw what I like.
YOU'VE MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR HOMETOWN, OKAYAMA. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR CONNECTION TO THIS REGION AND HOW IT INFLUENCES YOUR ART?
I stayed in my hometown until I was 20 years old. It means that you came of age in your hometown. I was formed in Okayama. It's not a big city compared to Tokyo or Osaka.
When I was young, I didn't really like Okayama. This is because there was less information than in the city. This was an era without social media or the internet.
Now that I'm older, when I return to my hometown, I see the wonderful food, land, nature, and people of my hometown that I wasn't able to experience when I was younger.
If I can give back to my hometown through the work I create, I think it's only natural to do so.
Yuya Hashizume x 4BYSIX T-shirt
THE EYEWATER SERIES IS CAPTIVATING IN ITS EMPHASIS ON EMOTIONS AND EXPRESSIONS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DELVE INTO THIS EXPLORATION OF HUMAN FEELINGS, AND WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE RESONATES WITH VIEWERS?
That's a difficult question. The eyewater series is a series in which characters shed tears, but these are by no means just sad tears. Tears are there both when you are happy and when you are angry.
This also happens when your eyes are dry. I don't give my audience a clear answer. Because I don't have an answer myself. I leave it up to the audience to decide what the tears mean. That way the audience will think.
The answer is infinity. I believe that is the beauty of this work.
YOUR RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS IN TOKYO AND SEOUL WERE SIGNIFICANT
MILESTONES. HOW DID THESE EXPERIENCES DIFFER, AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM SHOWCASING YOUR WORK ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE?
Exhibiting at a large venue or overseas is both interesting and anxiety-inducing. Even in Japan, when a large audience comes to see a performance at a large venue, there are pros and cons.
I'm a timid person, so when I'm rejected, I get filled with anxiety. I also know the joy of just being acknowledged. Whenever I have an exhibition at a large venue, I get stressed out and get sick.
I learned that when exhibiting overseas, the host country has rules that are different from Japan's culture. It may be disliked due to cultural differences such as color or motifs used for the host country.
It means that there is something. If you only think about the host country, you may not be able to appreciate the works produced by Japanese people. It's very difficult.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN 4BYSIX APPROACHED YOU FOR THIS
PROJECT?
I remember you reaching out to me when I was interested in donating.
However, I didn't know how to participate in the donation project, so the timing was good.
WHAT INTRIGUED YOU ABOUT COLLABORATING WITH A NON-PROFIT
ORGANISATION?
Japan is also a country prone to earthquakes and disasters. My hometown has also suffered devastating damage from rain disasters in the past.
I want to do what I can. That's it.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PIECE YOU CREATED FOR 4BYSIX? WHAT
WAS YOUR INSPIRATION, AND HOW DOES IT CONNECT TO YOUR BROADER BODY OF WORK?
This time, when I looked at the material I had painted, it looked like a night sky with countless stars. I have also presented space suit works in the past.
I immediately thought of the keyword "space" this time.
4BYSIX'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THROUGH CREATIVE
PROJECTS. HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR ART CONTRIBUTING TO THIS GOAL?
My work may still have value. Even if you create a work with the purpose of selling it after its value has fallen, there is no point in making it if it doesn't sell.
This is because it is a work intended for donation. This is because creating my signature work is more likely to sell than creating an experimental piece. So I think I can still contribute.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE TO CONVEY TO THE AUDIENCE WHO WILL BE ENCOUNTERING YOUR WORK THROUGH THE 4BYSIX AUCTION?
This is a work for donations to help people in need. We need money to help people.
Nothing more, nothing less. If you see my work and are wondering whether to buy it, please think of it as helping someone and buy it.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR ART, AND HOW DO
YOU SEE THIS COLLABORATION WITH 4BYSIX PLAYING A ROLE IN YOUR JOURNEY?
I'm an artist. Right now I'm exploring a lot of experimental expressions. It may not be accepted by the world.
However, since I am an artist of expression, my mission is to continue to create it. I think we wil I would be happy if 4bysix could support me in various ways.