Kokyo Hatanaka
Painter/Scholar for Indian Arts, Artist for Japanese Painting, Priest of Otani-ha Buddhism
Well-versed on the transformation of Buddhism Art when it moved from India to Japan. Many of , his works are related to Buddhism legend and folk stories customs. As a priest as well as an artist, his theme lies on historical artworks primarily from India. He tries to express deeper thought on meaning of such artworks and meaning of life through his art.
| 1947 | Born in Nara Prefecture |
|---|---|
| 1977 | Received the 21st Shell Art Award |
| 1978 | Received Japanese Painting Grand Award at the 1st Tokyo Central Museum of Fine Arts |
| 1987 | Received New Painter Award in the 5th Kyoto Prefecture Culture Awards |
| 2002 | Received Nikkei Japanese Painting Grand Award |
| 2004 | Received Distinguished Service Award in the 22nd Kyoto Prefecture Culture Awards |
| 2014 | Received Kyoto Arts and Culture Award |
| 2015 | Received Distinguished Service Award in Kyoto City Culture Awards Many other awards |
A former professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design
He was born in a temple in Nara Prefecture. After graduating from a Buddhist university, he visited India, Nepal, and Tibet, where he studied Indian culture, including Buddhism art, miniature art, and dyeing (cotton print). From a young age, he also enjoyed painting, and explored Japanese painting techniques at Kyoto City University of Arts alongside his art research.
"I might have only ever drawn my own memories and dreams. ...I traveled in India and Nepal so many days and times. ...I always traveled for certain purposes. I didn't want to go somewhere there wasn't cultural taste."
In order to look into the very beginning of Asian Art, he kept copying murals of temple buildings, staying outside and sleeping under the stars. He looked like an itinerant monk, learning local life and nature. His achievements as a painter, influenced by the energy of the Earth and the depth of the starry sky, stems from the heart of devotion.
