Hiroyuki Kimura - 8:49 AM

“This work depicts a scene of training on a guardrail. The willow trees are swaying in the wind, and the atmosphere of the place feels more palpable as time passes.”

Kimura captures scenes of sumo wrestlers in various environments, emphasizing the contrast between tradition and modernity.

Each painting in this collection is titled with a specific time of day. Some of the depicted scenes are based on real-life observations that Kimura has either remembered or photographed. Other scenes are imagined, yet still carry a timestamp. This approach creates a diary-like quality to the painting, leaving viewers uncertain whether the events actually occurred or are figments of Kimura's imagination.

Sumo wrestlers are required to wear traditional kimono when in public, a fact that Kimura highlights to show the striking contrast between the ancient traditions of sumo and the contemporary settings they navigate.

The pigments used in these artworks are prepared using a traditional method where stones are ground into powder, mixed with pigments, and combined with glue to create a paint. This method ensures rich, vibrant colors that bring depth and life to the paintings.