Artist Statement

Hironori (Hiro) Kiyoshima is a figurative sculptor based in Kumamoto, Japan, holding a Ph.D. in Fine Arts and serving as an art professor at Sojo University. With extensive formal training, he blends classical sculpting techniques with modern artistic sensibilities, creating works that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. His sculptures, though grounded in tradition, possess an undeniably contemporary energy—imbued with a profound sense of movement, raw emotion, and human fragility.

At the heart of Hiro’s work lies an exploration of the human condition—its beauty, suffering, resilience, and impermanence. His figures express a striking emotional depth, capturing moments of tension, vulnerability, and quiet contemplation. He believes that pain and struggle often reveal the deepest parts of the self, and through sculpture, he seeks to distill those emotions into tangible forms. “I am especially drawn to people in vulnerable moments—their emotions, their struggles, their fleeting existence. My work may sometimes appear tormented, but above all, it is about individuality and presence,” Hiro explains.

His artistic influences span both Western and Japanese traditions. He draws inspiration from Rodin, whose emphasis on individual character through physical expression has shaped Hiro’s approach to the human form. Equally significant is his connection to Haniwa, Japan’s ancient terracotta funerary sculptures from the 3rd to 6th century AD. These enigmatic, hollow-eyed figures, originally created to protect the deceased, have left a lasting imprint on Hiro’s aesthetic, evoking themes of transience and spiritual presence.

Hiro’s sculptural process begins with clay, a medium that allows him to physically engage with the form in an intuitive and expressive way. Each piece is then cast in bronze or resin, the latter often meticulously hand-painted with acrylics to enhance its depth and textural complexity. His mastery of materiality, combined with a nuanced understanding of form and movement, enables him to breathe life into his figures, making them feel not just seen, but profoundly felt.

In recent years, Hiro has also embraced digital expression as an extension of his sculptural practice. He actively explores new artistic frontiers through metaverse exhibitions, AR-based interactive experiences, and 3D-printed sculptures. By integrating traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital tools, he challenges the conventional boundaries of sculpture, opening new possibilities for how art is experienced and interpreted in the modern era. His engagement with these technologies allows his work to exist beyond physical space, immersing viewers in a sculptural experience that transcends time and materiality.

With a Ph.D. in Fine Arts, Hiro’s practice is not only rooted in technical excellence but also in academic inquiry, exploring the intersections of sculpture, technology, and human emotion. His ability to synthesize tradition, technique, and raw emotion results in sculptures that do not merely depict the human form, but rather, invite the viewer to experience it on a visceral level.

Whether displayed in private collections, public spaces, or virtual environments, his sculptures serve as silent yet powerful narratives, urging the viewer to reflect on the beauty found within fragility, strength, and the evolving nature of artistic expression.