Hajime Sorayama 空山基

 

Born in Ehime, Japan, 1947. Currently works and lives in Tokyo.

Sorayama graduated from Central Art School (Chuo Bijutsu Gakuen) in Tokyo in 1969 and started his career path as an illustrator. He is known for erotic portrayals of feminized, biomechanoid robots. This reputation was initially established in 1978 with the work series entitled “Sexy Robot”, which shocked the world for his artful depictions of sensual metallic qualities. The artist has been depicting robotized creatures including both terrestrial and aquatic animals, and dinosaurs since 1980s. He commented the dinosaurs were "childhood idols", as he still has interest and enthusiasm for them in adulthood. In 1999, Sorayama was awarded The Good Design Grand Prize from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Media Arts Festival Grand Prize from the Agency from Cultural Affairs for his concept design of SONY’s entertainment robot “AIBO”. Sorayama’s designs are a blend of fine art, illustration, and industrial design, developing his unique style of Superrealism.

1947 年出生於日本愛媛縣。目前在東京工作和生活。

空山基於 1969 年畢業於東京中央美術學院，並投身廣告界開始了他的插畫師生涯。空山以女性化的生物機械人的性感作品而聞名，他的名氣是在 1978 年憑藉名為「性感機械人」的系列作品建立起來的，該系列作品以他巧妙的對金屬質感進行性感的人性化描繪而震驚了世界。自 1980 年代以來，這位藝術家一直在描繪機械化生物，包括陸生動物、水生動物以及恐龍。 他評價恐龍為他的兒時偶像，甚至在成年後仍然對牠們充滿了興趣和創作熱情。 1999年，空山憑着SONY的娛樂機械人「AIBO」的概念設計獲得了全國優良設計大獎和日本文化廳媒體藝術祭大獎。 他的設計融合了藝術、插畫和工業設計，形成了藝術家獨有的超現實主義風格。

Previous Exhibitions

  • 2023
    Space Traveler | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
    Solo Show | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
    Labyrinth | Almine Rech | Paris, France

    2022
    H.R. Giger X Sorayama: Approaching | UCCA Lab | Beijing, China
    CYBER LADIES’ WORLD | Almine Rech | Paris, France

    2021
    SORAYAMA SHARK | chi K11 art space | Guangzhou, China
    Metropolis | HOW Art Museum | Shanghai, China
    Dinosauria | NANZUKA 2G | Tokyo, Japan

    2020
    SEX MATTER | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
    TREX | NANZUKA 2G | Tokyo, Japan

    2019
    SORAYAMA Space Park | Central Embassy | Bangkok, Thailand

    2018
    Sorayama Explosion | NANZUKA | Tokyo, Japan
    editions | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong

    2017
    Sawasdee Sexy Robot by Hajime Sorayama | EchoOne ArtSpace | Bangkok, Thailand
    Club Sorayama | LANDMARK | Hong Kong
    Hajime Sorayama's EXPO | Wrong Gallery | Taipei, Taiwan

    2016
    XLARGE × HAJIME SORAYAMA | XLARGE HARAJUKU | Tokyo, Japan
    Sorayama | Jacob Lewis Gallery | New York, USA
    An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan

    2015
    Hajime Sorayama editions | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
    Hajime Sorayama's Solo Exhibition | Little High | Tokyo, Japan
    HAJIME SORAYAMA - PRINT SHOW | FIFTY24SF GALLERY | San Francisco, USA

    2014
    Stussy Guest Artist Series - HAJIME SORAYAMA Exhibition Curated by NANZUKA | STUSSY HARAJUKU CHAPTER | Tokyo, Japan

    2013
    Solo Exhibition | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
    HAJIME SORAYAMA x graniph Exhibition | graniph Harajuku Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2011
    HAJIME SORAYAMA : 1970-2010 | Gering & Lopeg Gallery | New York, NY, US
    Sexcetra aired on Playboy TV
    NEO DISCIPLINE | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    Neo Japonism & Obsession | TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS/B GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan

    2010
    Solo Exhibition | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
    Giclee World | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2008
    Solo show | Opera Gallery | New York, USA
    Sorayama Exhibitions | WEAM Museum | South Beach, USA

    2007
    EROTOVISION | Mondo Bizzarro Gallery | Rome, Italy

    2005
    HYSTERICMINI 20th Anniversary ART EXHIBITION | Tokyo & Osaka, Japan / HongKong / Show Room, New York, USA

    2003
    HAJIME SORAYAMA-THE EXHIBITION | Ginza Graphic Gallery | Tokyo & Osaka, Japan

    2002
    Solo show | Bape Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    1999
    Solo show | Tamara Bane Gallery | Los Angeles, USA

    1998
    Solo show | Tamara Bane Gallery | Los Angeles, USA

    1994
    Solo show | UP'S Gallery
    Solo show | Tamara Bane Gallery | Los Angeles, USA
    Solo show | The Castlegate Hotel and Conference Center | Atlanta, USA

    1988
    Solo show | The Seibu Department Store Gallery | Hakodate, Japan

  • 2023
    The Summer | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
    The Essentials of KINBAKU ART | Vanilla Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    HAKKOU | MERRY ART GALLERY | Kanagawa, Japan
    WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts | Japan House Gallery | London, UK

    2022
    Mickey Mouse Now and Future | Seoul Art Centre, Hangaram Art Museum | Seoul, Korea
    Group show ‘for TZ’ | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
    My Pick - organized in association with CaM by Muuseo | CADAN Yurakucho | Tokyo, Japan
    Mickey Mouse Now and Future | Shinsaibashi PARCO 14F | Osaka, Japan

    2021
    Mickey Mouse Now and Future | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
    POP-ING NANZUKA at AKI Gallery | AKI Gallery | Taipei, Taiwan

    2020
    H.R.GIGER x SORAYAMA | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
    Underground of Diversity | Art Basel Miami Beach | Online
    2020 Global POP UNDERGROUND | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
    JP POP UNDERGROUND | Shinsaibashi PARCO 14F | Osaka, Japan

    2019
    Arsham Sorayama | NANZUKA 2G | Tokyo, Japan
    TOKYO POP UNDERGROUND | Jeffrey Deitch | Los Angeles, USA
    TOKYO POP UNDERGROUND | Jeffrey Deitch | New York, USA
    Span Art Gallery Collection | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    MUZAN -Cruel and beauty | VANILLA GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
    MSD - Global POP Wave in the 21st Century | CAC Málaga, Malaga, Spain
    I draw | D MUSEUM | Seoul, South Korea
    PEOPLE | Jeffrey Deitch | Los Angeles, USA
    Taipei Dangdai | Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center | Taipei, Taiwan

    2018
    Bubble wrap Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto | Kumamoto, Japan
    COOL JAPAN | TROPEN MUSEUM | Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Tokyo Sweet Gwendoline | VANILLA GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
    Exhibition of Mythical Beast V | Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation | Tokyo, Japan
    AAF 7th Exhibition | Yamawaki Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    【第二回】丘の上の秘宝の間 ~ アートでできた秘宝館 ~ | MERRY ART GALLERY | Kanagawa, Japan
    EROTIC ART and ESOTERICISM | Vanilla gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    The 30th Contemporary Art Exhibition | Imabari Kono Museum | Ehime, Japan

    2017
    Exhibition of Mythical Beast IV | Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation | Tokyo, Japan
    Alice | ROPPONGI STRIPE'S SPACE | Tokyo, Japan
    Blood and Roses | SPAN ART GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
    AUTOMOBILE ART FEDERATION(AAF) | YAMAWAKI GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
    ARRIVAL XX PLANET THE COLLECTION - EXHIBITION OF KAWS MURAKAMI TAKASHI’ S WORKS | Je Fine Art Gallery Shanghai | Shanghai, China
    The Encyclopedia of Masamichi Katayama ’Life is hard... Let's go shopping.’ | Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    THE UNIVERSE AND ART | ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM | Singapore
    Hello, Robot: Design Between Human and Machine | Vitra Design Museum | Weil am Rhein, Germany
    TENGAI 3.0 (Traveling exhibition) | hpgrp GALLERY TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
    The 29th Contemporary Art Exhibition | Kono Art Museum | Imabari City, Ehime, Japan
    頹恋期 | Mangasick | Taiwan

    2016
    DESIRE | Moore Building | Miami, USA
    It's a Sony | Sony Building | Tokyo, Japan
    TENGAI 3.0 | hpgrp GALLERY NEW YORK | New York, USA
    The Universe and Art | Mori Art Museum | Tokyo, Japan
    Cosmic Fusion 4 | O Museum | Tokyo, Japan
    TRIBUTE TO KOW YOKOYAMA | TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS | Tokyo, Japan
    ALLOY & PEACE | Spiral Garden | Tokyo, Japan

    2015
    Unorthodox | The Jewish Museum | New York, USA
    Exhibition of Mythical Beast II | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
    MEDICOM TOY EXHIBITION '15 | PARCO MUSEUM | Tokyo, Japan
    The Aesthetics of Fantasy - Japanese Erotica in Contemporary Art | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
    Here is ZINE tokyo 10 | Tokyo Cultuart BEAMS | Tokyo, Japan
    FELIX THE CAT - Cats Out Of The Bag | SLOW CULTURE | Los Angeles, USA
    Art Stage Singapore | Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre | Singapore

    2014
    LEATHER JAPAN | New York, USA
    The Destruction Of Experience: Amalia Ulman + HAJIME SORAYAMA Exhibition | Evelyn Yard | London, UK
    JAPAN EROTICA | Musee de lerotisme | Paris, France
    with Hello Kitty | MDP GALLERY/SPACE M | Tokyo, Japan
    PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! KILL! | Vanilla Gallery / Kinokuniya Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    O's story | billiken Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    atrocity beauty | Vanilla Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    HORIYOSHI THE THIRD x Hajime Sorayama | Galleria Harajuku | Tokyo, Japan
    KITAHARA COLLECTION | Takamatsu city museum of Art | Takamatsu, Japan
    PARAMOUNT RANCH | PARAMOUNT RANCH, USA
    Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2013
    The Pop Surrealism Show | Opera Gallery | New York, USA
    UKIYOE Roman Exhibition | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    ALICE Fantasy tale exhibition | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan

    2012
    Cosmic Fusion III | O Museum | Tokyo, Japan
    The ObsessionArt 5th Anniversary Exhibition | The Gallery in Cork Street | London, UK
    Artist's book by Treville 1985-2012 | Kinokuniya Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    Monster| billiken Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
    Japanese Erotic Artsts | Jinbocho Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2011
    MEDICOM TOY 15th ANNIVERSARY | PARCO MUSEUM | Tokyo, Japan
    Here is ZINE tokyo 2 | Tokyo Cultuart BEAMS | Tokyo, Japan
    Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art 40th Anniversary Special Exhibition | Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art | Shizuoka, Japan
    Märchenism | The Tobu Department Store Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2010
    CODE: EROTICA | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
    Dazzling Contemporary Art Collection of Teruhisa Kitahara | Mori Arts Center Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2009
    Almost There | Time Tunnel Series Vol.29, G8 | Tokyo, Japan

    2008
    CARNIVORA | FUSE Gallery/L'Imagerie Gallery/CPOP Gallery | New York, NY/Los Angeles, CA/Detroit, MI

    2007
    20th Anniversary Exhibitions Graphics & Messages | Ginza Graphic Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2006
    Group show | Ginza Recruit Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

    2005
    Winter Invitational | Art At Large | New York, USA

    1997
    Forum--Gelande | Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

    1989
    Ferrari Hall | Munich, Germany

  • 2001
    Inventor's Award - Asahi newspaper

    1999
    Good Design Grand Prize Award
    Media Art Festival Grand Prize Award

    1996
    Vargas Award

  • 2017 "COMPLETE MASTERWORKS", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland2016 "SORAYAMA", HIOSHINA
    2015 "Sexy Robot GIGANTES", Genkosha
    2014 "PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! KILL!", Editions Treville
    2014 "XL Sorayama masterworks", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
    2013 "Vibrant Vixens", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
    2010 "Sorayama masterworks", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
    2006 "Relativision", Graphic-sha
    2006 "SORAYAMA:SECRETS REVEALED"(DVD), Airbrush Action, US
    2003 "LATEX GALATEA", Editions Treville
    2002 "VENOM", Graphic-sha
    2002 "The Gynoids The Storage Box", Editions Treville
    2001 "SORAYAMA COMPLETE WORKS", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
    2000 "Sorayamart", Soleil Production, France
    2000 "Sorayama", Moira, Editions Kunst der Comisc Gmbh, Germany
    2000 "METALLICON", Sakuhin-sha
    2000 "The Gynoids-reborn", Editions Treville
    2000 "The Gynoids-Genetically Manipilated", Editions Treville
    1999 "SORAYAMA 1964-1999", Sakuhin-sha
    1998 "Torquere", Sakuhin-sha1997 "NAGA", Sakuhin-sha
    1997 "Sorayama, Call in Beauties", Bijutsu Shuppan-sha
    1997 "SORAYAMA VOLUME II CD-Rom", MSD-Japan
    1996 "Lithograph", Robert Bane Editions, US
    1996 "SORAYAMA VOLUME I CD-Rom", MSD-Japan
    1996 "Silver & Satin", Comic Image, US
    1995 "HAJIME SORAYAMA Collector Cards 2", Comic Image, US
    1995 Beginning of monthly publication of works by SORAYAMA in Penthouse Magazine
    1994 "HAJIME SORAYAMA Collector Cards", Comic Image, US
    1994 "Lithograph", Robert Bane Editions, US
    1994 Special Sorayama article appeared in the Silver Anniversary issue of Penthouse Magazine
    1993 THE GYNOIDS, Sakuhin-sha
    1993 HAJIME SORAYAMA Collector Cards, Comic Image, US
    1992 "Hyper Illustrations 2", Bijutsu Shuppan-sha
    1989 "Hyper Illustrations" Bijutsu Shuppan-sha
    1989 HAJIME SORAYAMA, Tschen, Germany
    1988 "Poster Book SEXY ROBOT", Tschen, Germany
    1985 Venus Odyssey, Tokuma communications
    1985 Illustration Video, Fuji Television
    1984 "Pinup", Graphic-sha
    1983 "Sexy Robot", Genko-sha

  • 2021 UT POP OUT, Jurassic World x HAJIME SORAYAMA at UNIQLO
    2021 WAVE PROPHECY SORAYAMA, Mizuno x HAJIME SORAYAMA
    2021 WAVE PROPHECY SORAYAMA, Mizuno x HAJIME SORAYAMA
    2017 Hajime Sorayama x BE@RBRICK by MEDICOM TOY2017 Hajime Sorayama x HBX
    2017 Hajime Sorayama x HYPEBEAST
    2017 HAJIME SORAYAMAw KAWI JAMELE 10th Anniversary
    2016 DARKSTAR x SORAYAMA SKATEBOARD DECK
    2016 JUUN.J x HAJIME SORAYAMA "Pitti Uomo 2016 A/W"
    2015 MEDICOM TOY x Hajime Sorayama 'Hajime Sorayama _sexy Robot standing model _A'
    2014 Stussy x Hajime Sorayama Guest Artist T-Shirt Series
    2014 Hajime Sorayama x British Knights "Art and The Future"
    2013 Hajime Sorayama x graniph Collaboration T -Shirts
    2011 Central Plumbing Specialties partners with INAX for fundraiser
    2009 Sorayama Sexy Robot T-shirt and poster by SixPack
    2009 KAWS "No Future Companion" by Sorayama version by MEDICOM TOY
    2007 Toshihiko Takamizawa, "Kaleidoscope" cover art
    2006 3RDWARE Artist Collection
    2006 MONDO MARTINI by HAJIME SORAYAMA
    2005 White Dunk Project by Nike To view Sorayama's Work
    2005 Playboy TV "Sexcetra" aired
    2004 BE@RBRICK WORLDWIDE TOUR by MEDICOM TOY
    2003 Hajime Sorayama x Disney x TOMY “BDhyp. FUTURE MICKEY”
    2001 Aerosmith, “Just Push Play” cover art
    1999 Sorayama designed Sony Entertainment Dog Robot “AIBO”

  • Museum of Modern Art, New York, US
    Smithsonian Institute of Technology Museum. Washington DC, US
    World Erotic Art Museum, Miami, US
    US Library of Congress. Washington DC, US