In the world of contemporary art, one name that stands out for their captivating drawings of nature is Hayashi Yuki. Though born to Japanese parents, she grew up in Asuncion, the capital city of Paraguay, and pursued the arts.
https://www.hayashiyuki.com/biografia
Her experience at the Institute of Fine Arts of Asuncion helped her achieve her master’s degree in traditional Japanese painting later in Japan. Yuki’s time in Japan influenced her techniques—to make use of composition, learn patience, and use her senses.
Today, she is most famous for her intricate paintings and drawings of plants. Influenced by Paraguay’s abundance of luscious trees, flowers, and medicinal herbs, Yuki captures each line with great precision and concentration. Though we can come up with many interpretations of her work, Yuki ironically has no specific attachment to her flowers.
Even though she doesn’t have feelings for her subject matters, plants are representative of her as a Paraguayan national and create a sense of belonging while still maintaining her Japanese heritage. Yuki’s work helps us appreciate her unique fusion of two cultures: Paraguay and Japanese, that we don’t see in most artists.
However, her Japanese background does come into play for this practical approach to her works. Japanese art is often characterized by minimalist and simplistic designs. One example of this is Wabi-Sabi, a concept that prioritizes simplicity over clutter and to see the beauty of nature and imperfections. Another is Nihonga (directly translated as “Japanese Painting") which incorporates ink, pigment, and gold and silver leaf on washi (Japanese paper) or eginu (silk). We can clearly see this in Yuki’s paintings with her clean lines, balanced composition, and making use of negative use, all of which she learned during her time at Tsukuba University in Ibaraki, Japan.
In the painting below, each stroke – both paint and ink – are deliberately placed to create a sense of cleanness and make it easy on the eyes to recognize each item. Her painting style also feels inspired by sumi-e (ink wash), a Japanese technique using purely ink and water to get gradients of color. Especially in the pink blossoms and the highlights where the light is hitting them.
Siempre vive - Always Live
https://www.hayashiyuki.com/obras/en/categoria/acuarela
Now, she works in small workshops in Asuncion and teaches Fine Arts. She has even published a book, The Truth of the Flower's Shadow, that reflects her artworks from the start of her career to today.
Here you can view more of her gorgeous artworks:
Factory Garden
https://www.hayashiyuki.com/obras/en/categoria/pintura
Batatilla
https://www.hayashiyuki.com/obras/en/categoria/pintura
Chachi
https://www.hayashiyuki.com/obras/en/categoria/pintura