Curated by William Chan Design, an art curation and brand creative consultancy, renowned Japanese gold-leaf artist Hisahiro Fukazawa presents his Hong Kong debut solo exhibition “Golden Whispers – Tales of Birds and Blossoms” at Gallery by the Harbour from 7 August to 7 September 2025. The exhibition features over twenty of the artist’s latest works that reinterpret traditional Japanese floral-bird painting through contemporary design aesthetics, inviting viewers into a meditative yet dazzling visual symphony. Golden Whispers represents Fukazawa’s modern interpretation of harmony between nature and the human spirit – a gilded love letter to the dialogue between past and present, and to sensitive souls alike.
Reimagining Tradition: Hisahiro Fukazawa’s Gold-Leaf Innovations in Floral-Bird Art
Fukazawa masterfully blends traditional Japanese gold-leaf craftsmanship, classical floral-bird motifs, and modern graphic composition to pioneer a distinctive new genre of “floral-bird painting”. In his works, birds adorned with floral crowns and intricate patterns appear both celebratory and introspective—each whispering its own story while constructing a transcultural visual narrative that bridges East and West, past and present.
The artist cites dual inspirations: the compositional aesthetics of Japanese traditional painting and the rational-emotional dialectic of Bauhaus design principles. This fusion cultivates his unique artistic voice. “Cultural convergence doesn’t dilute the essence,” Fukazawa asserts, “but rather allows harmonies to emerge, yielding richer visual vocabularies.”
The exhibition’s centerpiece, “Bird and Lotus”, commands attention with its monumental 2.3-meter span. This masterpiece of gold-leaf artistry employs multi-layered foil techniques to create a dynamically luminous surface that shifts with ambient light.
Complementing this masterpiece are intimate mid- and small-scale works, allowing collectors varied entry points to appreciate Fukazawa’s micro-precise brushwork and masterful gold-leaf stratification upon closer inspection.
Fukasawa to Demonstrate Ancient Gold-Leaf Techniques in Hong Kong
During the exhibition’s opening event on 6 August (Wed), Fukazawa presented a special live demonstration of gold-leaf techniques and painting methods, offering attendees a rare glimpse into this precious thousand-year-old craft. The artist meticulously explained the technical nuances of each step, allowing guests to witness firsthand how traditional craftsmanship finds new life in contemporary art creation.
Limited-Edition Gold-Leaf OBITSU Kewpie® Dolls Make Hong Kong Debut – Blending Traditional Craftsmanship with Charitable Purpose
A highlight of the exhibition features limited-edition gold-leaf OBITSU Kewpie® dolls, collaboratively crafted by Tokyo’s historic toy manufacturer OBITSU and Kanazawa’s century-old gold-leaf specialist “Hakuza”. While not created by Fukazawa himself, these collectibles share a meaningful material connection to the artist’s paintings – both utilize the same premium gold-leaf from Hakuza, creating a subtle yet profound dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art.
This exclusive collection features three sizes (5cm, 15cm, and 25cm), with each size strictly limited to 10 pieces in Hong Kong. Every doll is meticulously handcrafted by master artisans who apply pure gold leaf sheet by sheet, resulting in a luminous depth and luxurious finish. While the OBITSU Kewpie® doll traditionally symbolizes love and innocence, its gold-leaf transformation adds auspicious connotations of prosperity and good fortune. A portion of proceeds will support traditional artisans in Noto Peninsula’s earthquake-affected regions, helping preserve Japan’s craft heritage.
Hisahiro Fukasawa’s Solo Exhibition “Golden Whispers-Tales of Birds and Blossoms”@ Harbour City
Date: 7 August – 7 September 2025
Time: 11am – 9pm
Venue: Gallery by the Harbour (Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre, Harbour City)
