Philosophy
Ima wo ikiru (Live the now) — this is my philosophy.
We live each day with all our might, instant by instant, building upon each moment.
If there is a state of being we aspire to achieve, it can only be reached by the steady accumulation of moments. This is a truth I realized after my experiences during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
To fully embrace “now”—the realization that we exist only here and now—is the accumulation of these moments that shapes our path. I never want the passage of time to erode that understanding.
Tomorrow will surely come, just like the dawn. The radiance of life, its preciousness, its strength, and my gratitude for it are all distilled into the world of my paintings.
The pieces reflect unique Japanese aesthetics:
Kotodama, Bushido, and Ishi Monyo are each distinct, yet unified by the use of circular canvases, and are all centered around the concept of the “heart.”
The round canvas represents the “shape of the heart,” evoking the Japanese national flag, the sun, and the moon—elements that have been deeply intertwined with human life since ancient times—the essence of the Japanese spirit.
The strictness that surrounds all the works unites them, bringing a sense of calmness and contemplation. The quiet expression of Zen is felt, and by using volcanic rock from the Fuji mountain range as a pigment, one can sense both the raw and powerful force of nature. I believe the simplicity and sophistication of this expression resonate with the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. The works maintain a dialectical balance between “stillness” and “movement.”
Additionally, when I think of all my works, I find them rooted in an understanding of wabi-sabi. Wabi represents a refined beauty—simple and modest. It seeks fulfillment and beauty within simplicity. This is a spiritual aesthetic unique to the Japanese people. In the pursuit of my art, I always feel this sense of wabi, whether in the materials used, the concepts or compositions I explore, or the ideal image I strive for.
I believe the beauty that resonates deeply with the human heart is often the simplest. In these wabi works, I express respect through the use of only black and gold, maintaining a discipline that honors the viewer.
I show respect those who see my work with the materials, techniques, and tools that contribute to the creation of my artworks.
Biography
Toshiki Hayasaka
Born in 1990, in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Hayasaka began swimming at the age of two, dedicating his life to competitive swimming until he was 21. In 2010, he competed in the London Olympic selection trials. At 20, he was attending university when The Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) struck northern Japan.
He recalls the experience,
“It was an endless world of rubble, and the horizon swallowed everything. Gray clouds covered the sky, and sunlight streamed through the gaps—a scene I can never forget. I had a sense of disorientation, as though I didn’t know where I was.
On that day, I stood in an abnormal world where I could not feel the “presence of life.”
The boundary between life and death.
The peace of daily life suddenly shattered, and the world of death was thrust upon me. This “instant” in time became the foundation for living in the “now,” leaving an indelible mark within me. From that day forward, everything has been about living in the moment.”