平子雄一 Yuichi Hirako（b.1982, Japan）
1982年出生於日本岡山縣。2006年畢業於英國溫布頓藝術學院，現工作和居住於日本東京。平子雄一擅長繪畫與雕塑，其作品向來以探討人類與自然的共存共生為題材，而每幅繪畫都是藝術家對於自然的「提問」。平子雄一以油畫形式繪出最為純粹的作品，不但一筆一畫形塑出年輪主題，詳細描述了森林和自然在日本歷史和宗教方面的意義，即相信萬物皆有靈。作品色彩鮮豔、構圖精巧，線條與用色不拘小節，刻劃了豐富的元素與細節，如精緻搭設的舞臺劇場景般。近年活躍於國際藝術圈，於丹麥、荷蘭、法國、美國和新加坡等地皆發表過作品。
平子雄一歷年來於多家重要美術館及藝廊舉辦個展，展現出其作品在國際間的影響力。近年個展包括：「Ideal Landscape」，奈義町現代美術館，岡山縣（2024）；「Harmony with Nature」，葛西臨海公園，東京（2024）；「New Home」，Gallery Baton，首爾（2024）；「Journey」，Space K，首爾（2023）；「Frieze Sculpture」The Regent's Park，倫敦（2023）；「The Nature」The Modern Institute, Aird's Lane Bricks Space，格拉斯哥（2023）；「Inheritance, Metamorphosis, Rebirth」，練馬區立美術館，東京（2022）；「Footprints」，KOTARO NUKAGA，東京（2022）；「Fallen Leaves」，伊日後樂園，臺北（2022）；「Mount Mariana」，Gallery Baton，首爾（2021）；「Growth Rings」，Warehouse Gallery，香港（2020）；「Dandelion」，Zerp Galerie，鹿特丹 （2019）；「BLOOM」，伊日藝術計劃，臺北（2018）。
同時他的作品也受邀參加知名美術館的聯展，包括練馬區立美術館（2022年）、上海寶龍美術館（2021）、東京都現代美術館（2021、2010）、東京上野之森美術館（2013）、群馬縣立近代美術館（2010）。其作品被多家藝術機構典藏，包括荷蘭的利瑟美術館（Lisser Art Museum）與阿克蘇諾貝爾藝術基金會（AkzoNobel Art Foundation）、瑞士的讓．皮戈齊收藏館（Jean Pigozzi Collection）；日本的第一生命保險公司；中國的龍美術館、寶龍美術館、天目里美術館與現代傳播；韓國的U.PINEMED與可隆文化SpaceK等機構收藏。
Yuichi Hirako was born in Okayama Prefecture, Japan in 1982. He graduated from the Wimbledon College of Art, UK in 2006. He currently works and lives in Tokyo, Japan. Yuichi's art practice is centered on the coexistence of humans and nature with each painting posed as a "question" that the artist asks about nature. Yuichi's purest works, painted in oil, depicts this theme upon an annual ring which details the significance of the forest and nature in Japanese history and religion, namely the belief that all things are spiritual. The works are brightly colored and delicately composed, with unconventional lines and colors, delineating rich elements and details, as if they were elaborately set up for a stage play. In recent years, he has been active on the international art scene and has held exhibitions in Denmark, The Netherland, France, the USA, and Singapore.
Over the years, Yuichi Hirako has held numerous solo exhibitions at prominent museums and galleries, highlighting his work's international influence. Recent solo exhibitions include Ideal Landscape at the Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum, Okayama (2024); Harmony with Nature at Kasai Rinkai Park, Tokyo (2024); New Home at Gallery Baton, Seoul (2024); Journey at Space K, Seoul (2023); Frieze Sculpture at Regent's Park, London (2023); The Nature at The Modern Institute, Aird's Lane Bricks Space, Glasgow (2023); Inheritance, Metamorphosis, Rebirth at Nerima Art Museum, Tokyo (2022); Footprints at KOTARO NUKAGA, Tokyo (2022); Fallen Leaves at BACK_Y, Taipei (2022); Mount Mariana at Gallery Baton, Seoul (2021); Growth Rings at Warehouse Gallery, Hong Kong (2020); Dandelion at Zerp Galerie, Rotterdam (2019); and BLOOM at YIRI ARTS, Taipei (2018). His work has also been featured in group exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Nerima Art Museum (2022), Shanghai Powerlong Museum (2021), the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2021, 2010), Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo (2013), and the Gunma Museum of Modern Art (2010).
Hirako's works are held in significant collections worldwide, including the Lisser Art Museum and the AkzoNobel Art Foundation in the Netherlands, the Jean Pigozzi Collection in Switzerland, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company in Japan, and institutions in China such as Long Museum, Powerlong Museum, TANK Shanghai, and Modern Media Group. His work is also part of collections at U.PINEMED and Kolon Culture Space K in South Korea.