The distinct art of Hajime Sorayama is known by illustrators and art collectors to be some of the most skilled and accurately executed illustrations of pin-ups and erotic art the world has ever seen. His technique and precision are threateningly precise, and a cursory browse through his galleries can intimidate even the most expert draftsman.
It All Began With Robots
Hajime Sorayama was born in 1947 in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. There is not much known about his childhoodor life growing up, except that he graduated from Chuo art school in 1968 and worked at an advertising agency as an illustrator for several years.
Sexy Robot, published in 1983 by Genko-sha, was the world's first introduction to Hajime's brilliant robotic figures known as Gynoids. Many have tried to duplicate the inexplicable shapes and forms that come together in his works to form the perfect synchronicity of chrome and metal; this is what makes his fantasy subjects look like they were photographed and not hand drawn.
He masterfully uses brush, pencil and acrylic paint and airbrush for the finished touch. In 2001, the band Aerosmith featured a work by Sorayama for their album cover, titled "Just Push Play." Sorayama also designed the female borg Romulan for the Star Trek series. In 1997, he was chosen as the concept artist for the movie, Spawn.
Latex And Leather
Sorayama's art portrays a stunning candor where exquisite realistic elements of sci-fi bots intertwine. His works through the years run the gamut of shockingly evocative poses to downright wicked eroticism, with elements of fetish paraphernalia and costume. His depictions of women cave coined him 'the modern-day Vargas,' and with good reason. His works were simply ahead of their time in terms of fantasy innovation and sci-fi integration.
Touching upon bondage and sadomasochism, his works are not for the faint of heart and surely not for those who are disturbed by sexuality in art. In 1995, his erotic art began appearing in Penthouse magazine monthly. In 1996, he won the Vargas Award, awarded annually by Airbrush Action Magazine.
Sorayama's Most Recent Shows and Exhibitions
Sorayama's works have been displayed throughout the world in galleries, magazines, books, television shows and movies. Most recently:
- In 2008, Sorayama's work was exhibited at the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Beach, Florida.
- Sorayama is now represented by the international art gallery Artspace Company Y in New York.
Hajime Sorayama currently lives in Tokyo, Japan with his wife and two daughters.
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