Kazuharu Hanada (1946-2017) was one of Hokkaido’s representative abstract painters. Born in Sapporo in 1946, he enrolled in the Department of Oil Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1965. After graduating from graduate school, he returned to Sapporo in 1974, and had since been active as a principal member of the avant-garde movement in Hokkaido. Without joining any public associations, he displayed his work mainly in solo and group exhibitions until his death in 2017. His style was abstraction composed of nearly consistently clear-cut planes of color, reminiscent of the hard-edge paintings of Ellsworth Kelly and others. From the mid-1980s in particular, Hanada developed a unique abstract world that gives feelings of friendliness and humor.

In Kazuharu Hanada’s words, “Paintings composed with a theme of relations between emotion and recognition, utilizing geometric lines and shapes.” In 1965 he entered the Oil Painting Department of the Tokyo University of the Arts, and began his academic activities in Tokyo. As a postgraduate student he pursued art further in a class taught by Ryohei Koiso, and observing his work from that time it is clear that he was experimenting in various forms of modern art. From pre-war styles such as Fauvism, Cubism and Surrealism, to post-war abstract expressionism, works from "Row of Poplar Trees" (1961-1964) to “Untitled” (1969) have shown the process of approach establishment on abstract scenery painting.

He further developed natural motifs from his existent work and, extending into a new field, introduced a world of fantasy, full of poetry. "Mother’s Train"(2005) has shown the natural beauty of the oceans and mountains of his beloved native land, Hokkaido. The various shapes and colors drawn from undefined elements are full of creativity, conveying a powerful sense of humor and poetry. There are many pieces that elicit fun and happiness in their viewers.

Composed of geometric lines and figures, the artist’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong brings not only rich lyricism and clear visual effect, but also the refreshing scenery of Hokkaido, the birthplace of Hanada.

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