The Dark Melancholy of Kazuhiro Hori’s Art
A fluffy, pink candy-land could do no harm to anyone, but Kazuhiro Hori’s paintings portray the opposite. This Japanese artist shook the world with his intimate depictions of feminine despair, loathing, yearning, and blood-shot eyes.
During the day, this proficient artist spends his time teaching fashion design and accessory making at university. But, in his free time, he creates these breathtaking paintings, vibrant and gloomy simultaneously. Hori’s art stands out not only from his subjects but also from his themes.
He talks about the objectification and sexualization of young girls in Japanese society, depicting them in the often fetishized classic sailor uniform. Though at first glance it is disturbing, the alarming look of his art is meant to convey the discomfort and danger of the portrayal of these girls.
Hori has said that, in order to paint, he prefers to look at the real object and source his inspiration from there. He often asks his friends and coworkers to pose for him, and Hori paints based on those pictures.
Kazuhiro Hori started painting schoolgirls in 2009, and his consistency and profound message has amassed him a crowd of international fans. Depicting lonely-looking girls in a cotton candy, plush toy, and lollipop paradise, he likes to add in small pink toys, fake pistols, and a jam-like substance to symbolize bloodshed or the loss of innocence.
Reminiscing on Sono Sion’s 2016 film Anti Porno, Hori explores the downfalls of feminity and girlhood in a patriarchal society. Bittersweet could best describe the alluring paintings, and many women and girls alike can relate to the fantasy land he creates.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
