Pig Nation - A Story of Humanity

The Japanese contemporary artist handcrafts porcelain pigs, often positioning them sitting on a long bench or in a specific setting, expressions are of pure joy and encouragement. The series "Pig Nation" seeks to communicate a narrative of humanity. Through their abstracted journeys into topical situations there is a message conveyed by the pig characters. It's as if they are seen to be cohabiting, living on in communities despite having gender, race, and health conditions.

Without specific reference to neutral shapes, Takashi Hara as a painter takes influence from the abstract expressionists of the post war era and produces predominantly abstract surrealist paintings, which also depict pig figures and are ultimately generated from the unconscious. Takashi Hara thoughtfully places these twisted and distorted pig characters into various social situations and uncovers different topics, broadly relatable and important to humanity. Channelling such energy to create a narrative that speaks to society and by rejecting geometric shapes in favour of natural forms the artist seeks to visually impact the emotive state of his audience.

The artist's works show a deep emotional connection with humanity, positioning his symbolic pig characters in settings that unsettle the dust on some situations shedding light on to others and causing a deeper level of audience engagement. Each artwork is created with a unique pig character. Gestural, abstract expressionistic portraits and surrealist paintings and sculptures work together so that each individual pig has it's own DNA like characteristics, personalisation's, unique features, colour speckles, body shape or figurative forms. The pigs are imperfect; in terms of setting and foreshortening the artist opts for abstraction and naturalistic application to his technique echoing the reality that life is also not perfect and neither is society.

Takashi Hara is extremely confident with his creative process, on occasion the use of a paintbrush is abandoned in order to devise unconventional textures, utilising finger painting techniques or other unorthodox applications, that allow him to manipulate the materials creating layers and dimensions of figuration or effects that would otherwise not be achievable. The distortion of the Suidae subjects serves to capture the audience's insight and interpretation of the artworks portrayal.

As with the Surrealists who sought to channel the unconscious, Takashi refuses to be weighed down by taboos. The power of his personal imagination that dreams up topical narratives and the scenes he creates for the pig figures to explore draws us all along on their journey with them.

PLEASE NOTE!!! A2Z Art Gallery has moved to 41 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong as of January 12, 2019. For more information email hongkong@a2z-art.com