※近日中にバージョンアップ予定です
About the Artist: Hara Taichi
Hara Taichi was born in 1982 in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. Raised in an environment closely connected to art under the guidance of his father, Daisuke Hara, who was also a painter, Hara spent his childhood engaging in activities such as working with clay, drawing, and crafting. Despite this artistic upbringing, he longed for a conventional family life and aspired to become a company employee, attending Shibuya Makuhari High School, a prestigious preparatory school. However, as he approached the time to choose his career path, his desire to create something of his own grew stronger, leading him to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in art. He enrolled in the Department of Oil Painting at Musashino Art University.
During his university years, Hara focused on creating artwork, although he often struggled with deciding what to paint. His early works, featuring a pop-art style with vibrant, illustration-like elements, gained positive feedback. At that time, he created lively paintings starring his beloved pet dog as the protagonist, surrounded by mechanical and robotic motifs inspired by science fiction. In his senior year, he held his first solo exhibition at a gallery in Ginza, Tokyo, marking his debut as a painter.
After graduating, Hara began teaching at a small private art circle while receiving support from Tsubaki Modern Art Gallery, a well-established gallery in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Through their support, he was able to exhibit his works regularly and gain early recognition. However, the loss of his pet dog, who had been a significant source of inspiration, led to a creative struggle and a sense of stagnation in his artistic journey.
The turning point came with the discovery of a new motif: a rabbit. While creating a postcard design for an exhibition at the art-themed bar “Tsuki Usagi” (Moon Rabbit), Hara painted a rabbit, and the motif opened up a stream of new ideas. He decided to focus on this theme, inspired not only by
its creative possibilities but also by childhood memories of iconic rabbit characters such as Peter Rabbit and Bugs Bunny.
In 2017, Hara stayed in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, for research at the Onomichi Art Biotope, which inspired him to create “Departure at Dawn.” The work portrays a rabbit embarking on a raft into an unknown world, reflecting Hara’s own uncertainties about the future at the time. This painting marked a pivotal moment in his career. “Departure at Dawn” was exhibited at the Showa-kai Exhibition, an art competition hosted by Nichido Gallery, where it was selected for the exhibition. In 2018, Hara won the New York Prize at the 53rd Showa-kai Exhibition. He later participated in The Contest in New York, organized by the New York Art Wave Project, in which he won the Grand Prize. This led to a solo exhibition at Ashok Jain Gallery in New York.
In 2019, Hara received the Hakujitsu Prize and the Daitomo Art Award at the 95th Hakujitsu-kai Exhibition. (Hakujitsu-kai is an open call exhibition in Japan, often likened to a salon with over 100 years of history.) In 2023, he was awarded the SOMPO Museum of Art Prize at the 99th Hakujitsu-kai Exhibition, further solidifying his position as a noteworthy artist.
Currently, Hara continues to exhibit his works at the Nichido Gallery and the Hakujitsu-kai Exhibition, while also holding solo exhibitions at department stores across Japan. In 2025, he will hold a retrospective exhibition at Mori no Bijutsukan, an art museum located in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, where he will reflect on his artistic journey.
Hara’s works focus on the adventures of an anthropomorphized rabbit, Mr. Giasu, and his canine companion, John. Through their travels, Hara depicts not only landscapes and objects but also themes of nostalgia, imagination, humor, and homage to masterworks. These elements are intricately combined to create a unique and fantastical world, inviting viewers into the narrative. Mr. Giasu represents both Hara and his audience, exploring the world with curiosity and introspection.
Mori no Bijutsukan (an art museum located in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture)
