
Harumi Hironaka is a Peruvian-Japanese painter and illustrator currently living and working in Sao Paulo.
She lived her teenage years in Japan, where she was influenced by Anime and Manga: ¨that’s how it all started.
I wanted to become a manga artist¨.

Harumi writes:
'I wish I were a more evolved person, mentally and spiritually.
A person who can look beyond her own nose and feel inspired by more meaningful, beautiful things in life and the world.
But sometimes my art comes from this dark place - the place where I keep stuff I don’t want the people around me, in my everyday life, to see.
What I struggle or have struggled with.
My whole life I’ve been made to feel like I should apologize for being who I am and feeling the way I do.
Like there’s something inherently wrong with me.
I now refuse to apologize about my art, to listen to people that tell me that I should paint happier, more positive stuff.
That it would sell better.
I paint imperfect, unapologetic, loud women.
There’s something that vibrates in each of them, something that’s wrong.
By doing so, I acknowledge and accept myself.'

Paul writes:
'Harumi is a technically gifted artist, whose art leans towards Japanese Manga but also represent contemporary female themes and their struggles and journeys.
Her art is distinctive and the subjects painted represent strong and vulnerable characters in a Grunge Art and gritty style.
Harumi is a master of representing character and using colour.
I have been a huge admirer of her art for many years and look forward to how her art evolves.'

The gallery has a number of limited edition prints of Harumi's and is looking to feature some originals in the near future.
You can follow Harumi on Instagram:

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