Hideaki Kawashima

Hideaki Kawashima has developed a distinctive representational style characterized by exaggerated proportions, androgynous and sensuous figures, and monochromatic or minimal palettes—a result of the artist considering himself to be “bad at colors.” Many critics have suggested the possibility that all of Kawashima’s works are versions of self-portraits, but Kawashima is careful about this association: “It was not an ideological thing like a self-portrait. I think it was more like painting a character. Instead of being someone’s likeness, it was my own character.” His works touch upon themes of spirituality, mythical narratives, anxiety, depression, and isolation.