"Hisui's Eyes, Coloring the Times" Hisui Sugiura and the Poetics of Modern Design

"Hisui's Eyes, Coloring the Times" - Sugiura Hisui and the Poetics of Modern Design

On a street corner in Ginza, a poster caught my eye. Its soft curves and understated yet dignified colors give it a nostalgic feel. Sugiura Hisui's aesthetic sense is embodied within it.

Born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture in 1876, Hisui studied Japanese painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, while also gaining a deep understanding of Western art. Influenced by Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession, he carved out a path as a designer without losing sight of traditional Japanese beauty.

His work as an exclusive designer for Mitsukoshi Department Store became the face of the brand, to the point that he was referred to as "Mitsukoshi's Hi-Sui or Mitsukoshi's Hi-Sui." From posters to PR magazines and product packaging, his work brought "art in the everyday" to life.

His designs are a perfect blend of realism and decoration, flatness and depth, and Japanese and Western styles. For example, in the opening poster for the Tokyo Subway, a dynamic composition that makes full use of perspective depicts the dynamism of the city. Meanwhile, in "Hisui Hyakkafu," delicate depictions of flowers such as cherry blossoms, peonies, and magnolias exude a quiet poetic atmosphere.

His philosophy is rooted in "learning from nature." Through thorough observation and sketching, he breathed life into color and form. It was not merely decoration, but a "visual language" that spoke to the heart of the viewer.

Hisui's work remains relevant even today. In fact, it is precisely in this age of information overload that his clarity and familiarity, as well as his novelty within tradition, help to refine our sensibilities.

Sugiura Hisui was a designer and poet who influenced the times. When we come into contact with his work, we quietly read poetry through our eyes.