Created Because Japanese Wild Bears Came Down from the Mountains: Yasuhito Kawasaki's "slow slow green time" Exhibition Shrinks Nature into Palm-Sized Ceramics
He speaks of heavy topics with such gentleness.
Summary
- A great arts and culture destination for a weekend visit to Tai Kwun: Japanese artist Yasuhito Kawasaki's new solo exhibition, "Green Times," has arrived in Hong Kong.
- Inspired by news reports of wild bears wandering down from the mountains in Japan, the work invites long-term reflection on the ecological balance between humans and nature.
- The exhibition features gentle, soothing paintings and miniature ceramic sculptures, translating a heavy theme into delicate details you can hold in your palm.
- The exhibition runs through November 28, 2026, at TOUCH GALLERY, Block 3, Tai Kwun, Central.
If you’re planning a weekend stroll around Tai Kwun, beyond grabbing a coffee, consider adding TOUCH GALLERY in Block 3 to your itinerary. Japanese artist Yasuhito Kawasaki (Yasuhito Kawasaki) is currently holding his solo exhibition “Green Meadow” here, filled with gentle, healing ceramic sculptures that will instantly make you stop and look.
Upon first encountering Kawasaki’s work, it’s easy to be drawn to its slightly boyish forms. In his earlier years, he often used fiberglass or ceramics to sculpt innocent children’s faces, exploring the subconscious and childhood memories. For this exhibition, however, his perspective quietly shifts from personal inner landscapes to the broader relationship between humans and nature.
Bears came down from the mountains—what next?
The starting point for his latest series traces back to the bear sightings widely discussed in the Japanese news in late 2025. While the public panicked over wild animals wandering into human settlements, Kawasaki saw a deeper cause and effect: bears weren’t leaving the mountains without reason; food sources in the wild were growing scarce. All of this stems from previous generations planting vast monoculture forests for timber, overlooking the natural ecological balance.
This led him to ponder whether, in today’s fast-paced society, we’ve grown accustomed to looking only at the immediate present, forgetting how to envision a distant future.
Gentle whispers sized for the palm
Faced with such a heavy ecological subject, Kawasaki shares his story with remarkable gentleness. Moving through the space, alongside delicate paintings, you’ll encounter a brand-new series of miniature ceramic sculptures. Pieces like “Blue Bear and 2 Birds” and “Two Trees” feature exquisite forms that depict intimate scenes of humans and animals coexisting.
Scattered throughout, these story-filled details scale grand environmental themes down into palm-sized ceramics. Behind the charming shapes lies an invitation across time, prompting us to rethink how we live alongside this world with a comfortable, long-term perspective.
“Green Meadow” Exhibition
TOUCH GALLERY, Shop 204, 2/F, Block 3, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central
November 4, 2026 – November 28, 2026
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Closed Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays)
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