I have known Kawabata since he was in Jr. High as an art teacher. I remember his work from those days very well but I was so impressed by his new work from the time he began working.  Fundamentals of his art hasn't changed since his Jr. high period and now I strongly feel that he is trying to dig his ideas from those days deeper.  Particularly, the meaning of the wriggling lines prolong to every direction, which the conclusive characteristic of paintings has not changed even nowadays.  

For him, to draw is not at all to copy the object truly.  I should rather say that it is a continuation work of finding his soul on the other side of the object.  By drawing, it is unimaginable what comes next.  According to Kawabata, he has been demanding the form, which he hasn't been able to see yet in this way.  To begin with, the drawings are not to sell or not for the praise.  I would say, his drawings are his journal, a mirror of his mind, and similar to the product of a prayer. 

If I give you the details of his work, there was still an impression of the actual shape of little rocks, fish, and the flow of the river as a motif.  Then, as he experience of life expended, the objects changed into the moon, the sun, the trees, people and soon, studying the Buddhism art as the Chinese Tonko stone caves closely, the series of Buddha; Shakyamuni have developed.   However, as I mentioned earlier, his art is not the copy of the object, it is developed as the accumulation as the image of "mind awareness of each time".

Honestly, I would say I couldn't feel the life in the line as much as I feel now in those few years ago. The "line" still lacked the technique.   However, since he has touched the spirituality and the color, the flowing composition of the picture, the line is not just a simple line but it has become the soul ("life" he demands') by combining with the color.  Also, he has shown the development in quality in his work since then. 

It has been about 30 years since he began drawing.  After carrying on the dialog insatiably within him, the work is about to be born which Kawabata,  himself would assent.   From now on, the motif of the work might change, however, the soul within the essence would not change.   Moreover, the bright life would appear inside of that unusual fire like picture.

I would like many people to know, Hideto Kwabata, the unique talent shows in the line.


Haruhide Yamasaki
Former Principle of the Shimamoto-cho Osaka Public Jr. High School