Jump to content

Hajime Sorayama: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Changing short description from "Japanese illustrator" to "Japanese illustrator (born 1947)"
 
(247 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Japanese illustrator (born 1947)}}
{{Unreferenced|date=October 2008}}
{{third-party|date=July 2017}}
'''Hajime Sorayama''' (空山基, ''Sorayama Hajime'', born February 22nd, 1947) is a [[Japanese art|Japanese]] illustrator.
{{Infobox artist
<!-- | bgcolour = #6495ED -->
| name = Hajime Sorayama
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|2|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Imabari, Ehime|Imabari, Ehime Prefecture]], [[Japan]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = [[Japanese people|Japanese]]
| field = [[Erotic illustration]]/Robot art
| training = Chuo Art School
| movement =
| works =
| patrons =
| influenced_by =
<!-- | influenced = [[Adi Granov]] -->
| awards =
| website = {{Official website}}
}}


{{nihongo|'''Hajime Sorayama'''|空山 基|Sorayama Hajime|born February 22, 1947}} is a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] illustrator known, along for his design work on the original [[Sony AIBO]], for his precisely detailed, erotic portrayals of feminine robots. He describes his highly detailed style as "superrealism", which he says "deals with the technical issue of how close one can get to one's object."<ref name="pinupfiles" />
==Biography==
Hajime Sorayama was born in 1947 in [[Imabari]]. 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 literature|Greek-]] and [[English literature]]. In 1967, he transferred to [[Tokio]]'s Chuo School where he began to study art.


Modern English-language editions of Sorayama's art books give his name as ''Hajime Sorayama'', using conventional Western order, with given name followed by surname. Some older publications give his name as ''Sorayama Hajime'', using native [[Japanese name]] order, which puts the family name first.
Sorayama graduated in 1969 at the age of 22, and gained an appointment in an advertising agency. He became a freelance illustrator in 1971.


==Notable works==
==Early life==
Hajime Sorayama was born in 1947 in [[Imabari]], [[Ehime]] prefecture, [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hajime Sorayama: What to Know About the Artist |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/tag/hajime-sorayama/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Highsnobiety |language=en-US}}</ref> He received his basic education at Imabari Kita High School where he began drawing Playboy inspired pin-ups.<ref name="totodigio" /> He was influenced by [[Makoto Oda (novelist)|Makoto Oda's]] book ''Nandemo Mite yaro ("I'll go and see everything")'' about his travels through Europe and Asia; Sorayama took interest in Greece and decided to enter Christian [[Shikoku Gakuin University]] to study [[English literature]] and Ancient Greek.<ref name=totodigio>
Sorayama's first book ''Sexy Robot'', published by Genko-sha in 1983, which made his organic robotic forms famous around the world. For the work, he used ideas from [[Pin-up girl|pin-up art]], which in the book then appear as chrome-plated "female" robots in suggestive poses. A number of his other works similarly revolve around figures in suggestive poses, including highly realistic depictions in latex and leather.
{{cite web
| title = Hajime Sorayama: The Airbrush Legend (interview)
| publisher = totalgraphic.wordpress.com (totodigio)
| date = 9 January 2008
| url = https://totalgraphic.wordpress.com/maestros/hajime-sorayama/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208103501/http://totalgraphic.wordpress.com/maestros/hajime-sorayama
| archive-date = 2012-02-08
}}
</ref> In his second year, he founded the school magazine, ''Pink Journal'', but criticism motivated him to leave for Tokyo's Chuo Art School in 1967 to study art.<ref name="pinupfiles">{{cite web|url=http://www.thepinupfiles.com/sorayama.html|title=Hajime Sorayama pin-up girls &#124; The Pin-up Files|publisher=www.thepinupfiles.com|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170616/http://www.thepinupfiles.com/sorayama.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="biography">Sorayama's official biography http://www.sorayama.net/html/47_78.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721230804/http://www.sorayama.net/html/47_78.html|date=2015-07-21}}</ref><ref name="totodigio" />


Sorayama graduated in 1968 at the age of 21, and gained an appointment in an advertising agency. He became a freelance illustrator in 1972.<ref name="biography" /> In 1978, he drew his first robot. Of this subject, he wrote: "A friend of mine, the designer [[Hara Koichi]], wanted to use [[C-3PO]] from ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' for a [[Suntory]] poster presentation. But time was short and there were problems with copyright fee[s], so I was asked to come up with something."<ref name="totodigio" />
Other published books include ''Hajime Sorajama'', ''Sorayama Hyper Illustrations'' (1 & 2), ''The Gynoids'', ''Naga'' and ''Torquere''. A compendium was published as ''The Complete Works 1964-99''.


==Career==
He has appeared on numerous occasions on the cover of ''[[Airbrush]] Action magazine''. The cover of [[Aerosmith]]'s [[Just Push Play]] is based on a Sorayama design.
Sorayama is known for his [[fine art]], illustration, and [[industrial design]]. Of the distinction between the first two, Soryama commented in an interview: "Unlike art, illustration is not a matter of emotion or hatreds, but an experience that comes naturally through logical thinking."<ref name="pinupfiles" />


Sorayama began drawing erotic art of [[gynoid]] robots in 1983.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Hajime Sorayama {{!}} Metal Magazine |url=https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/article/hajime-sorayama-machines-with-sex-appeal |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=metalmagazine.eu |archive-date=2023-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530003133/https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/article/hajime-sorayama-machines-with-sex-appeal |url-status=live }}</ref> His pin-up work appeared monthly for years in the pages of [[Penthouse (magazine)|''Penthouse'']] magazine, and [[Playboy TV]] later aired made a [[television special]] on Sorayama's art.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} In an interview, he said pin-up was his "mania", commenting that "I've been drawing them since high school. Back then, there was this thing for the Playboy and Penthouse playmates. Now, it's the girl-next-door, [[Aidoru|idol]] type, but in our day, these pin-ups were like goddesses. I guess I could describe it as my own goddess cult."<ref name="totodigio" />
In the ''[[Venture Bros.]]'' episode "[[Past Tense (Venture Bros. episode)|Past Tense]]," a character named Mike Sorayama builds robots nearly identical to those depicted by Hajime. Sorayama is thanked in the episode's credits. In the South Park Series a short scene contains the world famous sexy robotic image. Star Trek series used Sorayama to design the female borg Romulan. He did art for the T3 Terminator movie. Perhaps, most famous is not a female form but the Sony AIBO robotic pets (first of their kind) which received the highest Japanese government award. Sorayama's art is in the permanent collections of MOMA and the Smithsonian Institute of Technology Museum. [[Media:http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A7983&page_number=2&template_id=1&sort_order=1]]

His style has influenced other works such as the 2015 film [[Ex Machina (film)|''Ex Machina'']].<ref name=":0" />

In the 2000s, Sorayama's first-generation [[AIBO]] design (the [[robotics]] of which were developed by Sony's [[Toshitada Doi]]) received the Grand Prize of Best Design award, the highest design award conferred by Japan. AIBO has since been included in the permanent collections of the [[Museum of Modern Art]] (MOMA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hajime Sorayama, Sony Corporation, Tokyo. Aibo entertainment robot (ERS-110). 1999 {{!}} MoMA |url=https://www.moma.org/collection/works/82163 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=The Museum of Modern Art |language=en |archive-date=2015-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110091536/http://www.moma.org/collection/works/82163 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. It was included in the book ''Objects of Design'' by Paola Antonelli and has been the subject of special studies at [[Carnegie Mellon University]]. The [[Nike (company)|Nike]] "White Dunk Project" included Sorayama among the 25 most inspiring Japanese artists.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The artist released another retrospective, ''Master Works'', in early 2010, and a new book, ''Vibrant Vixens'', in May 2013 and updated version "XL Masterworks" in 2014. He worked with filmmakers in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] on fantasy and science fiction projects, including a film about ''Penthouse''.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} During 2012 and 2013, Sorayama collaborated with American fashion designer [[Marc Ecko]]. In 2013 Sorayama was a contributor to the art book ''Star Wars Art Concept''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=StarWars com |title=Star Wars Art: Concept -- Exclusive Preview |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-art-concept-exclusive-preview |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=StarWars.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606134956/https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-art-concept-exclusive-preview |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, South Korean fashion label Juun.J released a series of garments in collaboration with Sorayama.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madsen |first=Susanne |date=2016-01-16 |title=Juun.J presents androgynous offering at Pitti Uomo |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/29218/1/juun-j-presents-androgynous-offering-at-pitti-uomo |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Dazed |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727073719/https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/29218/1/juun-j-presents-androgynous-offering-at-pitti-uomo |url-status=live }}</ref> French fashion brand Dior collaborated with Sorayama for their Pre-Fall 2019 menswear collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alex James |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Dior goes sci-fi with Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama |url=https://hero-magazine.com//article/147884/dior-goes-sci-fi-with-japanese-artist-hajime-sorayama |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Hero |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109193948/https://hero-magazine.com/article/147884/dior-goes-sci-fi-with-japanese-artist-hajime-sorayama |url-status=live }}</ref> The collection was a commercial and critical hit, and Sorayama worked with Dior on a follow-up Summer capsule collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soormally |first=Sabrina |last2= |first2= |date=2019-08-02 |title=Dior Hits The Beach With Hajime Sorayama |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/fashion/dior-hits-the-beach-with-hajime-sorayama/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB |archive-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109193944/https://www.clashmusic.com/fashion/dior-hits-the-beach-with-hajime-sorayama/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Bibliography===
* ''Pink Journal'' (1967)
* ''Sexy Robot'' (1983, Genko-sha)
* ''Pin-up'' (1984, Graphic-sha)
* ''Venus Odyssey'' (1985, Ed. Tokuma communications)
* ''Hajime Sorayama'' (1989, Taco, Berlín)
* ''Sorayama Hyper Illustrations'' (1 & 2) (1989, Bijutsu Shuppan-sha)
* ''The Gynoids'' (1993, Edition Treville)
* ''Naga'' (1997, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''Torquere'' (1998, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''Sorayama 1964-99. The Complete Works'' (1999, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''The Gynoids genetically manipulated'' (2000, Edition Treville)
* ''Gynoids reborn'' (2000, Edition Treville)
* ''Sorayamart'' (2000, Ed. Soleil)
* ''Moira'' (2000, Edition Kunst der Comics)
* ''Metallicon'' (2001, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''The Gynoids. The Storage Box'' (2002, Edition Treville)
* ''Venom'' (2002, Graphic-sha)
* ''Latex Galatea'' (2003, Editions Treville)
* ''Relativision'' (2006)
* "Sorayama's Master Works", (late spring 2010 release)
* "Vibrant Vixens", (late spring 2013 release)
* "XL Masterworks", (2014 release)


==Sorayama Art Case in News==
# On September 22, 2007, Robert Bane was found to have committed fraud by illegally dumping hundreds of limited edition reproductions of artist Hajime Sorayama artwork online. Subsequently, Bane filed for bankruptcy on Oct 22.[2]
# In 2007-2009, Hajime Sorayama, prevails in Fraud and Conversion Case Against Publisher / Gallerist Robert Bane / Tamara Feuer - Bane before the United States Federal Trial Court and obtains favorable rulings in BK court on 23 Dec 2008.[[Media:http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/22/entertainment/et-pinupart22]]
# IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2009: On December 23, 2008 Robert S. Bane is convicted additionally of embezzlement of Sorayama's assets by bankruptcy court, which reaffirms the actions in year 2007 of federal trial court ruling that debtor Robert S. Bane et al is not entitled to a discharge of debt under Chapter 7 because of intended fraud(s) / conversion / etc by Bane in accord with prior ruling of Honorable Judge Cooper AND debtor Bane et al has also engaged in embezzlement of artist Sorayama's rightful owned earnings/assets. Robert Bane and Tamara Feuer - Bane own publishing / art gallery firms that conducted frauds on Sorayama as described by Findings of Fact by Honorable Judge Florence Marie Cooper AND Robert S. Bane's embezzlement was ruled upon recently by Honorable Judge Sheri Bluebond.[[Media:[1]http://www.laurinlawfirm.com/updates.html
]]
==References==
==References==
{{refbegin}}
{{Reflist}}

*[http://www.sorayama.net/ Sorayama's previous website] (contains explicit material)
==External links==
*[http://hajimesorayama.com/ Sorayama's current website], since April 2007.
* {{Official website}}
{{refend}}
* {{ISFDB name|30102}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorayama, Hajime}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorayama, Hajime}}
[[Category:Japanese illustrators]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Japanese artists]]
[[Category:20th-century illustrators]]
[[Category:Fetish artists]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese painters]]
[[Category:Pin-up artists]]
[[Category:Fantasy artists]]
[[Category:Science fiction artists]]
[[Category:Artist authors]]
[[Category:Artist authors]]
[[Category:Artists from Ehime Prefecture]]
[[Category:Fantasy artists]]
[[Category:Fetish artists]]
[[Category:Japanese contemporary artists]]
[[Category:Japanese erotic artists]]
[[Category:Japanese erotic artists]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Japanese graphic designers]]
[[Category:Japanese illustrators]]
[[Category:Japanese industrial designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Imabari, Ehime]]

[[de:Hajime Sorayama]]
[[Category:Pin-up artists]]
[[Category:Science fiction artists]]
[[fr:Hajime Sorayama]]
[[it:Hajime Sorayama]]
[[ja:空山基]]
[[pl:Hajime Sorayama]]
[[pt:Hajime Sorayama]]
[[fi:Hajime Sorayama]]

Latest revision as of 04:00, 3 September 2024

Hajime Sorayama
Born (1947-02-22) 22 February 1947 (age 77)
Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
EducationChuo Art School
Known forErotic illustration/Robot art
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Hajime Sorayama (空山 基, Sorayama Hajime, born February 22, 1947) is a Japanese illustrator known, along for his design work on the original Sony AIBO, for his precisely detailed, erotic portrayals of feminine robots. He describes his highly detailed style as "superrealism", which he says "deals with the technical issue of how close one can get to one's object."[1]

Modern English-language editions of Sorayama's art books give his name as Hajime Sorayama, using conventional Western order, with given name followed by surname. Some older publications give his name as Sorayama Hajime, using native Japanese name order, which puts the family name first.

Early life

[edit]

Hajime Sorayama was born in 1947 in Imabari, Ehime prefecture, Japan.[2] He received his basic education at Imabari Kita High School where he began drawing Playboy inspired pin-ups.[3] He was influenced by Makoto Oda's book Nandemo Mite yaro ("I'll go and see everything") about his travels through Europe and Asia; Sorayama took interest in Greece and decided to enter Christian Shikoku Gakuin University to study English literature and Ancient Greek.[3] In his second year, he founded the school magazine, Pink Journal, but criticism motivated him to leave for Tokyo's Chuo Art School in 1967 to study art.[1][4][3]

Sorayama graduated in 1968 at the age of 21, and gained an appointment in an advertising agency. He became a freelance illustrator in 1972.[4] In 1978, he drew his first robot. Of this subject, he wrote: "A friend of mine, the designer Hara Koichi, wanted to use C-3PO from Star Wars for a Suntory poster presentation. But time was short and there were problems with copyright fee[s], so I was asked to come up with something."[3]

Career

[edit]

Sorayama is known for his fine art, illustration, and industrial design. Of the distinction between the first two, Soryama commented in an interview: "Unlike art, illustration is not a matter of emotion or hatreds, but an experience that comes naturally through logical thinking."[1]

Sorayama began drawing erotic art of gynoid robots in 1983.[5] His pin-up work appeared monthly for years in the pages of Penthouse magazine, and Playboy TV later aired made a television special on Sorayama's art.[citation needed] In an interview, he said pin-up was his "mania", commenting that "I've been drawing them since high school. Back then, there was this thing for the Playboy and Penthouse playmates. Now, it's the girl-next-door, idol type, but in our day, these pin-ups were like goddesses. I guess I could describe it as my own goddess cult."[3]

His style has influenced other works such as the 2015 film Ex Machina.[5]

In the 2000s, Sorayama's first-generation AIBO design (the robotics of which were developed by Sony's Toshitada Doi) received the Grand Prize of Best Design award, the highest design award conferred by Japan. AIBO has since been included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)[6] and the Smithsonian Institution. It was included in the book Objects of Design by Paola Antonelli and has been the subject of special studies at Carnegie Mellon University. The Nike "White Dunk Project" included Sorayama among the 25 most inspiring Japanese artists.[citation needed]

The artist released another retrospective, Master Works, in early 2010, and a new book, Vibrant Vixens, in May 2013 and updated version "XL Masterworks" in 2014. He worked with filmmakers in Hollywood on fantasy and science fiction projects, including a film about Penthouse.[citation needed] During 2012 and 2013, Sorayama collaborated with American fashion designer Marc Ecko. In 2013 Sorayama was a contributor to the art book Star Wars Art Concept.[7]

In 2016, South Korean fashion label Juun.J released a series of garments in collaboration with Sorayama.[8] French fashion brand Dior collaborated with Sorayama for their Pre-Fall 2019 menswear collection.[9] The collection was a commercial and critical hit, and Sorayama worked with Dior on a follow-up Summer capsule collection.[10]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Pink Journal (1967)
  • Sexy Robot (1983, Genko-sha)
  • Pin-up (1984, Graphic-sha)
  • Venus Odyssey (1985, Ed. Tokuma communications)
  • Hajime Sorayama (1989, Taco, Berlín)
  • Sorayama Hyper Illustrations (1 & 2) (1989, Bijutsu Shuppan-sha)
  • The Gynoids (1993, Edition Treville)
  • Naga (1997, Sakuhin-sha)
  • Torquere (1998, Sakuhin-sha)
  • Sorayama 1964-99. The Complete Works (1999, Sakuhin-sha)
  • The Gynoids genetically manipulated (2000, Edition Treville)
  • Gynoids reborn (2000, Edition Treville)
  • Sorayamart (2000, Ed. Soleil)
  • Moira (2000, Edition Kunst der Comics)
  • Metallicon (2001, Sakuhin-sha)
  • The Gynoids. The Storage Box (2002, Edition Treville)
  • Venom (2002, Graphic-sha)
  • Latex Galatea (2003, Editions Treville)
  • Relativision (2006)
  • "Sorayama's Master Works", (late spring 2010 release)
  • "Vibrant Vixens", (late spring 2013 release)
  • "XL Masterworks", (2014 release)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Hajime Sorayama pin-up girls | The Pin-up Files". www.thepinupfiles.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Hajime Sorayama: What to Know About the Artist". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Hajime Sorayama: The Airbrush Legend (interview)". totalgraphic.wordpress.com (totodigio). 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08.
  4. ^ a b Sorayama's official biography http://www.sorayama.net/html/47_78.html Archived 2015-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "Hajime Sorayama | Metal Magazine". metalmagazine.eu. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  6. ^ "Hajime Sorayama, Sony Corporation, Tokyo. Aibo entertainment robot (ERS-110). 1999 | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Archived from the original on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  7. ^ Team, StarWars com. "Star Wars Art: Concept -- Exclusive Preview". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  8. ^ Madsen, Susanne (2016-01-16). "Juun.J presents androgynous offering at Pitti Uomo". Dazed. Archived from the original on 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  9. ^ Taylor, Alex James (April 25, 2019). "Dior goes sci-fi with Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama". Hero. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  10. ^ Soormally, Sabrina (2019-08-02). "Dior Hits The Beach With Hajime Sorayama". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Hajime_Sorayama&oldid=1243736836"