Hajime Sorayama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
illustrator, known for his precisely detailed, erotic airbrush portrayals of women and feminine robots.
. He received his basic education at Imabari Kita High School. In 1965 he was admitted to the Shikoku
Gakuin University, where he began to study Greek
and English literature
. In 1967, after the publication of his first work, Pink Journal, he transferred to Tokyo
's Chuo Art School where he began to study art.
Sorayama graduated in 1968 at the age of 21, and gained an appointment in an advertising agency. He became a freelance illustrator in 1972. In 1978 he drew his first robot. He resides in Tokyo
.
, which in the book then appear as chrome-plated gynoid
s in suggestive poses. His next book, Pin-up (Graphic-sha, 1984), continue in the same line. A number of his other works similarly revolve around figures in suggestive poses, including highly realistic depictions in latex and leather. His pinups appeared frequently in the pages of Penthouse magazine.
In 1985 Sorayama published the video Illustration Video, his first work apart from the books of illustrations. This includes works in the movies "Brain Dead" (1992), "Timecop
" (1994) and "Space Trucker" (1995), design of trading cards, limited edition prints, CD Roms, art exhibitions and the initial industrial design for Sony
's AIBO
robotic pet.
From 1985 to 2011 has been a very busy period for Sorayama who is releasing his new book Master Works in late spring of 2010.
"Unlike art, illustration is not a matter of emotion or hatreds, but an experience that comes naturally through logical thinking."
Japanese art
Japanese art covers a wide range of art styles and media, including ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, ink painting on silk and paper and more recently manga, cartoon, along with a myriad of other types of works of art...
illustrator, known for his precisely detailed, erotic airbrush portrayals of women and feminine robots.
Biography
Hajime Sorayama was born in 1947 in Imabari, Ehime prefecture, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He received his basic education at Imabari Kita High School. In 1965 he was admitted to the Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
Gakuin University, where he began to study Greek
Greek literature
Greek literature refers to writings composed in areas of Greek influence, typically though not necessarily in one of the Greek dialects, throughout the whole period in which the Greek-speaking people have existed.-Ancient Greek literature :...
and English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
. In 1967, after the publication of his first work, Pink Journal, he transferred to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
's Chuo Art School where he began to study art.
Sorayama graduated in 1968 at the age of 21, and gained an appointment in an advertising agency. He became a freelance illustrator in 1972. In 1978 he drew his first robot. He resides in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Notable works
Sorayama's work Sexy Robot, published by Genko-sha in 1983, made his organic robotic forms famous around the world. For the work, he used ideas from pin-up artPin-up girl
A pin-up girl, also known as a pin-up model, is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as popular culture. Pin-ups are intended for informal display, e.g. meant to be "pinned-up" on a wall...
, which in the book then appear as chrome-plated gynoid
Gynoid
A gynoid is anything which resembles or pertains to the female human form. It is also used in American English medical terminology as a shortening of the term Gynecoid ....
s in suggestive poses. His next book, Pin-up (Graphic-sha, 1984), continue in the same line. A number of his other works similarly revolve around figures in suggestive poses, including highly realistic depictions in latex and leather. His pinups appeared frequently in the pages of Penthouse magazine.
In 1985 Sorayama published the video Illustration Video, his first work apart from the books of illustrations. This includes works in the movies "Brain Dead" (1992), "Timecop
Timecop
Timecop is a 1994 science-fiction thriller film directed by Peter Hyams and co-written by Mike Richardson and Mark Verheiden. Richardson was also executive producer...
" (1994) and "Space Trucker" (1995), design of trading cards, limited edition prints, CD Roms, art exhibitions and the initial industrial design for Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's AIBO
AIBO
AIBO was one of several types of robotic pets designed and manufactured by Sony...
robotic pet.
From 1985 to 2011 has been a very busy period for Sorayama who is releasing his new book Master Works in late spring of 2010.
Quotes
"By contrast, superrealism deals with the technical issue of how close one can get to one's object.""Unlike art, illustration is not a matter of emotion or hatreds, but an experience that comes naturally through logical thinking."