Naru Hiko's Oil Paintings Reframe Everyday Japanese Parks and Neighborhoods

Naru Hiko's oil paintings reimagine typical Japanese landscapes through a lens of simplification. The artist finds inspiration during strolls in both public and residential areas throughout Japan, where elements like benches, traffic cones, fences, and playground equipment frequently appear. Instead of creating exact replicas, Hiko distills these familiar objects into fundamental shapes and hues, altering the viewer's perception of commonplace settings. The artworks maintain ties to recognizable Japanese scenery while infusing abstraction with color, geometry, and form. By highlighting often-ignored aspects of public spaces, the paintings offer a fresh viewpoint on familiar environments. The series features titles like Blue Forms, Quiet Noon, and A Favorite at Rest. This project, named 'everyday japan,' was submitted to designboom's DIY feature, edited by Christina Vergopoulou. Hiko's Instagram is @naru_hiko_.