Hajime Sorayama 空山基

Born in Ehime, Japan, 1947. Currently works and lives in Tokyo.

Sorayama graduated from Central Art School (Chuo Bijutsu Gakuen) in Tokyo in 1969 and started his career path as an illustrator. He is known for erotic portrayals of feminized, biomechanoid robots. This reputation was initially established in 1978 with the work series entitled “Sexy Robot”, which shocked the world for his artful depictions of sensual metallic qualities. In an age of virtual reality porn, anatomically correct droids, and actual artificial intelligence sex robots, Sorayama’s work stands as an origin point for everything related to sex and technology. He took the cold, calculating science-fiction idea of a robot and gave it sexual qualities, portraying his hyper-realistic “sexy robots” in suggestive or pinned-up positions. As a result, the “gynoid” or “fembot” became his signature work, taking the inhuman and blending it with his view of women as “goddesses” to create curvy, lustful, traditionally feminine figures cast in the metallic sheen and emotionally detached programming of a robot.

The artist has been depicting robotized creatures including both terrestrial and aquatic animals, and dinosaurs since 1980s. He commented the dinosaurs were "childhood idols", as he still has interest and enthusiasm for them in adulthood. In 1999, Sorayama was awarded The Good Design Grand Prize from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Media Arts Festival Grand Prize from the Agency from Cultural Affairs for his concept design of SONY’s entertainment robot “AIBO”. Sorayama’s designs are a blend of fine art, illustration, and industrial design, developing his unique style of Superrealism.

1947 年出生於日本愛媛縣。目前在東京工作和生活。

空山基於 1969 年畢業於東京中央美術學院，並投身廣告界開始了他的插畫師生涯。空山以女性化的生物機械人的性感作品而聞名，他的名氣是在 1978 年憑藉名為「性感機械人」的系列作品建立起來的，該系列作品以他巧妙的對金屬質感進行性感的人性化描繪而震驚了世界。在虛擬實境色情、符合解剖學的機器人和真正的人工智慧性愛機器人的時代，空山的作品代表了與「性」和「技術」的聯繫。他採用了科幻小說中冰冷而精於算計的機器人理念，並賦予了它性感的特質，以挑釁或固定的姿勢描繪了他超現實的「性感機器人」。「女性機器人」成為了他的標誌性作品，將非人性與他對「女神」的想像相融合，創造出曲線優美、性感、傳統的女性形象，並在金屬光澤和情感超然的編程中展現。

自 1980 年代以來，這位藝術家一直在描繪機械化生物，包括陸生動物、水生動物以及恐龍。他評價恐龍為他的兒時偶像，甚至在成年後仍然對牠們充滿了興趣和創作熱情。 1999年，空山憑着SONY的娛樂機械人「AIBO」的概念設計獲得了全國優良設計大獎和日本文化廳媒體藝術祭大獎。他的設計融合了藝術、插畫和工業設計，形成了藝術家獨有的超現實主義風格。

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

2024
I, Robot ｜Almine Rech | London, United Kingdom
Desire Machines | Museum of Sex | Miami, Miami, FL
2023
Space Traveler | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
Solo Show | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
Labyrinth | Almine Rech | Paris, France
2022
H.R. Giger X Sorayama: Approaching | UCCA Lab | Beijing, China
CYBER LADIES’ WORLD | Almine Rech | Paris, France
2021
SORAYAMA SHARK | chi K11 art space | Guangzhou, China
Metropolis | HOW Art Museum | Shanghai, China
Dinosauria | NANZUKA 2G | Tokyo, Japan
2020
SEX MATTER | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
TREX | NANZUKA 2G | Tokyo, Japan
2019
SORAYAMA Space Park | Central Embassy | Bangkok, Thailand
2018
Sorayama Explosion | NANZUKA | Tokyo, Japan
editions | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
2017
Sawasdee Sexy Robot by Hajime Sorayama | EchoOne ArtSpace | Bangkok, Thailand
Club Sorayama | LANDMARK | Hong Kong
Hajime Sorayama's EXPO | Wrong Gallery | Taipei, Taiwan
2016
XLARGE × HAJIME SORAYAMA | XLARGE HARAJUKU | Tokyo, Japan
Sorayama | Jacob Lewis Gallery | New York, USA
An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
2015
Hajime Sorayama editions | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
Hajime Sorayama's Solo Exhibition | Little High | Tokyo, Japan
HAJIME SORAYAMA - PRINT SHOW | FIFTY24SF GALLERY | San Francisco, USA
2014
Stussy Guest Artist Series - HAJIME SORAYAMA Exhibition Curated by NANZUKA | STUSSY HARAJUKU CHAPTER | Tokyo, Japan
2013
Solo Exhibition | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
HAJIME SORAYAMA x graniph Exhibition | graniph Harajuku Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2011
HAJIME SORAYAMA : 1970-2010 | Gering & Lopeg Gallery | New York, NY, US
Sexcetra aired on Playboy TV
NEO DISCIPLINE | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
Neo Japonism & Obsession | TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS/B GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
2010
Solo Exhibition | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
Giclee World | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2008
Solo show | Opera Gallery | New York, USA
Sorayama Exhibitions | WEAM Museum | South Beach, USA
2007
EROTOVISION | Mondo Bizzarro Gallery | Rome, Italy
2005
HYSTERICMINI 20th Anniversary ART EXHIBITION | Tokyo & Osaka, Japan / HongKong / Show Room, New York, USA
2003
HAJIME SORAYAMA-THE EXHIBITION | Ginza Graphic Gallery | Tokyo & Osaka, Japan
2002
Solo show | Bape Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
1999
Solo show | Tamara Bane Gallery | Los Angeles, USA
1998
Solo show | Tamara Bane Gallery | Los Angeles, USA
1994
Solo show | UP'S Gallery
Solo show | Tamara Bane Gallery | Los Angeles, USA
Solo show | The Castlegate Hotel and Conference Center | Atlanta, USA
1988
Solo show | The Seibu Department Store Gallery | Hakodate, Japan
2024
STAR WARS EXHIBITION: PASSION STRENGTH POWER | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
Come One, Come All | Anthony Gallery | Chicago, IL
2023
MODERN TIMES in Paris 1925: Art and Design in the Machine-age | Pola Museum of Art | Tokyo, Japan
三代目彫よし × 空山基『弧狼展』 | ART GALLERY DOGENZAKA | Tokyo, Japan
The Summer | AISHONANZUKA | Hong Kong
The Essentials of KINBAKU ART | Vanilla Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
HAKKOU | MERRY ART GALLERY | Kanagawa, Japan
WAVE: Currents in Japanese Graphic Arts | Japan House Gallery | London, UK
2022
Mickey Mouse Now and Future | Seoul Art Centre, Hangaram Art Museum | Seoul, Korea
Group show ‘for TZ’ | NANZUKA UNDERGROUND | Tokyo, Japan
My Pick - organized in association with CaM by Muuseo | CADAN Yurakucho | Tokyo, Japan
Mickey Mouse Now and Future | Shinsaibashi PARCO 14F | Osaka, Japan
2021
Mickey Mouse Now and Future | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
POP-ING NANZUKA at AKI Gallery | AKI Gallery | Taipei, Taiwan
2020
H.R.GIGER x SORAYAMA | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
Underground of Diversity | Art Basel Miami Beach | Online
2020 Global POP UNDERGROUND | PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
JP POP UNDERGROUND | Shinsaibashi PARCO 14F | Osaka, Japan
2019
Arsham Sorayama | NANZUKA 2G | Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO POP UNDERGROUND | Jeffrey Deitch | Los Angeles, USA
TOKYO POP UNDERGROUND | Jeffrey Deitch | New York, USA
Span Art Gallery Collection | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
MUZAN -Cruel and beauty | VANILLA GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
MSD - Global POP Wave in the 21st Century | CAC Málaga, Malaga, Spain
I draw | D MUSEUM | Seoul, South Korea
PEOPLE | Jeffrey Deitch | Los Angeles, USA
Taipei Dangdai | Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center | Taipei, Taiwan
2018
Bubble wrap Contemporary Art Museum Kumamoto | Kumamoto, Japan
COOL JAPAN | TROPEN MUSEUM | Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tokyo Sweet Gwendoline | VANILLA GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
Exhibition of Mythical Beast V | Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation | Tokyo, Japan
AAF 7th Exhibition | Yamawaki Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
【第二回】丘の上の秘宝の間 ~ アートでできた秘宝館 ~ | MERRY ART GALLERY | Kanagawa, Japan
EROTIC ART and ESOTERICISM | Vanilla gallery | Tokyo, Japan
The 30th Contemporary Art Exhibition | Imabari Kono Museum | Ehime, Japan
2017
Exhibition of Mythical Beast IV | Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation | Tokyo, Japan
Alice | ROPPONGI STRIPE'S SPACE | Tokyo, Japan
Blood and Roses | SPAN ART GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
AUTOMOBILE ART FEDERATION(AAF) | YAMAWAKI GALLERY | Tokyo, Japan
ARRIVAL XX PLANET THE COLLECTION - EXHIBITION OF KAWS MURAKAMI TAKASHI’ S WORKS | Je Fine Art Gallery Shanghai | Shanghai, China
The Encyclopedia of Masamichi Katayama ’Life is hard... Let's go shopping.’ | Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
THE UNIVERSE AND ART | ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM | Singapore
Hello, Robot: Design Between Human and Machine | Vitra Design Museum | Weil am Rhein, Germany
TENGAI 3.0 (Traveling exhibition) | hpgrp GALLERY TOKYO | Tokyo, Japan
The 29th Contemporary Art Exhibition | Kono Art Museum | Imabari City, Ehime, Japan
頹恋期 | Mangasick | Taiwan
2016
DESIRE | Moore Building | Miami, USA
It's a Sony | Sony Building | Tokyo, Japan
TENGAI 3.0 | hpgrp GALLERY NEW YORK | New York, USA
The Universe and Art | Mori Art Museum | Tokyo, Japan
Cosmic Fusion 4 | O Museum | Tokyo, Japan
TRIBUTE TO KOW YOKOYAMA | TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS | Tokyo, Japan
ALLOY & PEACE | Spiral Garden | Tokyo, Japan
2015
Unorthodox | The Jewish Museum | New York, USA
Exhibition of Mythical Beast II | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
MEDICOM TOY EXHIBITION '15 | PARCO MUSEUM | Tokyo, Japan
The Aesthetics of Fantasy - Japanese Erotica in Contemporary Art | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
Here is ZINE tokyo 10 | Tokyo Cultuart BEAMS | Tokyo, Japan
FELIX THE CAT - Cats Out Of The Bag | SLOW CULTURE | Los Angeles, USA
Art Stage Singapore | Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre | Singapore
2014
LEATHER JAPAN | New York, USA
The Destruction Of Experience: Amalia Ulman + HAJIME SORAYAMA Exhibition | Evelyn Yard | London, UK
JAPAN EROTICA | Musee de lerotisme | Paris, France
with Hello Kitty | MDP GALLERY/SPACE M | Tokyo, Japan
PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! KILL! | Vanilla Gallery / Kinokuniya Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
O's story | billiken Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
atrocity beauty | Vanilla Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
HORIYOSHI THE THIRD x Hajime Sorayama | Galleria Harajuku | Tokyo, Japan
KITAHARA COLLECTION | Takamatsu city museum of Art | Takamatsu, Japan
PARAMOUNT RANCH | PARAMOUNT RANCH, USA
Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2013
The Pop Surrealism Show | Opera Gallery | New York, USA
UKIYOE Roman Exhibition | Span Art Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
ALICE Fantasy tale exhibition | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
2012
Cosmic Fusion III | O Museum | Tokyo, Japan
The ObsessionArt 5th Anniversary Exhibition | The Gallery in Cork Street | London, UK
Artist's book by Treville 1985-2012 | Kinokuniya Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
Monster| billiken Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
Japanese Erotic Artsts | Jinbocho Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2011
MEDICOM TOY 15th ANNIVERSARY | PARCO MUSEUM | Tokyo, Japan
Here is ZINE tokyo 2 | Tokyo Cultuart BEAMS | Tokyo, Japan
Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art 40th Anniversary Special Exhibition | Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art | Shizuoka, Japan
Märchenism | The Tobu Department Store Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2010
CODE: EROTICA | Bunkamura | Tokyo, Japan
Dazzling Contemporary Art Collection of Teruhisa Kitahara | Mori Arts Center Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2009
Almost There | Time Tunnel Series Vol.29, G8 | Tokyo, Japan
2008
CARNIVORA | FUSE Gallery/L'Imagerie Gallery/CPOP Gallery | New York, NY/Los Angeles, CA/Detroit, MI
2007
20th Anniversary Exhibitions Graphics & Messages | Ginza Graphic Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2006
Group show | Ginza Recruit Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2005
Winter Invitational | Art At Large | New York, USA
1997
Forum--Gelande | Castrop-Rauxel, Germany
1989
Ferrari Hall | Munich, Germany
2001
Inventor's Award - Asahi newspaper
1999
Good Design Grand Prize Award
Media Art Festival Grand Prize Award
1996
Vargas Award
2023 “THE GYNOIDS LUVTRONIX", Koutoku-sha
2023 "Hajime Sorayama", TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR 2023, Innen Zine
2022 "GIGER SORAYAMA by H. R. Giger, Hajime Sorayama", KALEIDOSCOPE
2022 "TOKYO SWEET GWENDOLINE" Kawade Shobo Shinsha
2022 "DOMINATRIX HEAVEN," Kawade Shobo Shinsha
2020 "SORAYAMA", Sakuhin-sha
2017 "COMPLETE MASTERWORKS", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland2016 "SORAYAMA", HIOSHINA
2015 "Sexy Robot GIGANTES", Genkosha
2014 "PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! KILL!", Editions Treville
2014 "XL Sorayama masterworks", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
2013 "Vibrant Vixens", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
2010 "Sorayama masterworks", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
2006 "Relativision", Graphic-sha
2006 "SORAYAMA:SECRETS REVEALED"(DVD), Airbrush Action, US
2003 "LATEX GALATEA", Editions Treville
2002 "VENOM", Graphic-sha
2002 "The Gynoids The Storage Box", Editions Treville
2001 "SORAYAMA COMPLETE WORKS", Edition SKYLIGHT, Switzerland
2000 "Sorayamart", Soleil Production, France
2000 "Sorayama", Moira, Editions Kunst der Comisc Gmbh, Germany
2000 "METALLICON", Sakuhin-sha
2000 "The Gynoids-reborn", Editions Treville
2000 "The Gynoids-Genetically Manipilated", Editions Treville
1999 "SORAYAMA 1964-1999", Sakuhin-sha
1998 "Torquere", Sakuhin-sha1997 "NAGA", Sakuhin-sha
1997 "Sorayama, Call in Beauties", Bijutsu Shuppan-sha
1997 "SORAYAMA VOLUME II CD-Rom", MSD-Japan
1996 "Lithograph", Robert Bane Editions, US
1996 "SORAYAMA VOLUME I CD-Rom", MSD-Japan
1996 "Silver & Satin", Comic Image, US
1995 "HAJIME SORAYAMA Collector Cards 2", Comic Image, US
1995 Beginning of monthly publication of works by SORAYAMA in Penthouse Magazine
1994 "HAJIME SORAYAMA Collector Cards", Comic Image, US
1994 "Lithograph", Robert Bane Editions, US
1994 Special Sorayama article appeared in the Silver Anniversary issue of Penthouse Magazine
1993 THE GYNOIDS, Sakuhin-sha
1993 HAJIME SORAYAMA Collector Cards, Comic Image, US
1992 "Hyper Illustrations 2", Bijutsu Shuppan-sha
1989 "Hyper Illustrations" Bijutsu Shuppan-sha
1989 HAJIME SORAYAMA, Tschen, Germany
1988 "Poster Book SEXY ROBOT", Tschen, Germany
1985 Venus Odyssey, Tokuma communications
1985 Illustration Video, Fuji Television
1984 "Pinup", Graphic-sha
1983 "Sexy Robot", Genko-sha
2021 UT POP OUT, Jurassic World x HAJIME SORAYAMA at UNIQLO
2021 WAVE PROPHECY SORAYAMA, Mizuno x HAJIME SORAYAMA
2021 WAVE PROPHECY SORAYAMA, Mizuno x HAJIME SORAYAMA
2017 Hajime Sorayama x BE@RBRICK by MEDICOM TOY2017 Hajime Sorayama x HBX
2017 Hajime Sorayama x HYPEBEAST
2017 HAJIME SORAYAMAw KAWI JAMELE 10th Anniversary
2016 DARKSTAR x SORAYAMA SKATEBOARD DECK
2016 JUUN.J x HAJIME SORAYAMA "Pitti Uomo 2016 A/W"
2015 MEDICOM TOY x Hajime Sorayama 'Hajime Sorayama sexy Robot standing model A'
2014 Stussy x Hajime Sorayama Guest Artist T-Shirt Series
2014 Hajime Sorayama x British Knights "Art and The Future"
2013 Hajime Sorayama x graniph Collaboration T -Shirts
2011 Central Plumbing Specialties partners with INAX for fundraiser
2009 Sorayama Sexy Robot T-shirt and poster by SixPack
2009 KAWS "No Future Companion" by Sorayama version by MEDICOM TOY
2007 Toshihiko Takamizawa, "Kaleidoscope" cover art
2006 3RDWARE Artist Collection
2006 MONDO MARTINI by HAJIME SORAYAMA
2005 White Dunk Project by Nike To view Sorayama's Work
2005 Playboy TV "Sexcetra" aired
2004 BE@RBRICK WORLDWIDE TOUR by MEDICOM TOY
2003 Hajime Sorayama x Disney x TOMY “BDhyp. FUTURE MICKEY”
2001 Aerosmith, “Just Push Play” cover art
1999 Sorayama designed Sony Entertainment Dog Robot “AIBO”
Museum of Modern Art, New York, US
Smithsonian Institute of Technology Museum. Washington DC, US
World Erotic Art Museum, Miami, US
US Library of Congress. Washington DC, US

Artist Website