"Summer of Swaying Poppies" (2011)

You can see these works at the exhibition currently held at the Arishima Memorial Museum in Niseko, titled "The Fujikura Brothers Exhibition: Toyoaki, Hideyuki, and Takayuki - 'The Path the Three Have Walked'."

The three brothers were born and raised in Iwanai Town, Hokkaido. The eldest, Toyoaki, is a designer; the second, Hideyuki, is an illustrator; and the youngest, Takayuki, is a photographer. Each has made a significant mark in the advertising design industry.

The Fujikura Brothers Exhibition: Toyoaki, Hideyuki, and Takayuki - 'The Path the Three Have Walked'

Today, we focus on Hideyuki Fujikura, known for his works depicting the landscapes of Hokkaido.

His art is captivating, capturing the magnificent scenery from various parts of the prefecture and expressing it with vibrant colors. He depicts not tourist spots, but everyday scenes like roads used by locals and views from a train window, making us cherish the landscapes of daily life. Many people might feel a sense of, "I've never seen it before, yet I know it."

"Path of the Spring Breeze" (2012)

What first strikes you about his work is its palpable "warmth." The painting-like detail and coloration captivate the viewer's heart. After experimenting with various techniques, Hideyuki arrived at his unique method: coloring the edges of hand-torn pieces of colored paper and layering them to create his art.

The creation process

"In the early days, my paper collages used a craft knife extensively, but the lines from a knife are sharp and have a cold impression, lacking warmth. That's why I tear the paper by hand as much as possible. I think this style is well-suited for depicting that unique feeling of Hokkaido's landscapes."

"Snowfield" (1988), a piece from when he frequently used a craft knife.

"From Nusamai Bridge" (2012), a piece from after he started tearing by hand.

He colors each of the countless pieces to express shading and pastes them in order from the bottom up, like a puzzle. The charm of his work lies in its use of the "texture of the paper." While using the technique of "harie" (paper collage), he wants his work to be seen as "paintings." This commitment is so strong that he shaves the surface of the paper he pastes to avoid creating thickness.

"Cape Nosappu" (2011)

Hideyuki Fujikura went independent at the age of 26. Until his 30s, he worked in advertising design for clients, creating sports-related illustrations and flyers.

"Design, you know, has trends. I thought I couldn't continue in design for long, and I really wanted to draw. I gradually shifted my focus to art, and eventually, I was able to make a living from it alone."

In his 30s, he began creating works depicting nostalgic scenes and pastimes of Hokkaido. The pieces from this period combined paper cutouts from black construction paper with color. The fineness of the expression evokes a realistic sense of "nostalgia."

Paper cutout works from the 80s

Fujikura says that the paper cutout technique was perfect for conveying such nostalgic scenes. There is always a person somewhere in the picture, which brings the landscape to life. He paid special attention to their expressions.

"Not smiling, not angry, just a neutral, calm face. I aimed for expressions that could be interpreted differently by the viewer. If you put too much expression, the focus shifts to the person, you see."
After his era of paper cutout works, what Fujikura wanted to draw next was the landscape of Hokkaido. This marked the beginning of his "harie" paper collage creations, which are widely known today.

"Sound of the Sea" (1992)

The distinct outlines disappeared, and any figures depicted were shown from behind. His work shifted to focus primarily on landscapes.

For the first two to three years, Fujikura focused on the theme of "Hokkaido's winter." The catalyst for him to start depicting the scenery of all four seasons was when he began creating the covers for JR's in-train magazine.

JR in-train magazine

From 1992 to the present, his art has graced the covers of the in-train magazine, conveying the seasonal joys of Hokkaido.
As the years go by, his works become increasingly detailed. This is immediately apparent in his 2020 piece, "When the Dandelions Bloom."

"When the Dandelions Bloom" (2020) and Mr. Fujikura

"The most difficult thing is the scenery reflected on the water's surface. You'd think the exact same thing would be reflected, but it's slightly different—because it's far away, only so much is reflected. It's a beautiful scene and interesting as a picture, so even though I know it's difficult, I can't stop doing it."

We asked Mr. Fujikura, who spoke with a boyish smile, about his future goals.

"I just want to live my life drawing. That's all, I think. And if I'm going to live by drawing, I want to be satisfied with my work, even just a little, and I want to create new things and experience that feeling of 'I've encountered a great piece!' even though I'm the one creating it. When you think that way, your work naturally becomes more intricate. You start to see more and more. Even if I think about what I'd do if I quit my job, I think I'd still be drawing."

"Niseko in August" (2011)

Hideyuki Fujikura went independent at 26 and will soon celebrate his 50th anniversary. His commitment to and great joy in "living by drawing" continue to produce wonderful works of art.

Be sure to visit the Arishima Memorial Museum to see Mr. Fujikura's work for yourself.