Yuichi Hirako Japan, b. 1982 Noland 02, 2026 mixed media 250 x 600 x 20 cm
Gallery Baton hosts POSTFOREST, the third solo exhibition by artist Yuichi Hirako, running from October 22 through December 5, 2026.
Featuring paintings, sculptures, and installations, the showcase explores ecological themes and the possibility of equal coexistence through Hirako’s signature hybrid figures.
Hirako’s upbringing in Japan's Okayama Prefecture, combined with his period of study in London, shaped his artistic viewpoint.
Observing how modern cities manipulate greenery for human comfort rather than letting plants thrive naturally led him to question the objectification of the environment.
Drawing inspiration from deep ecology, Hirako presents nature as an independent entity living alongside humanity. His art creates narrative worlds populated by plant-human hybrids, animals, and flora, all living quiet, interconnected lives.
The exhibition builds on Hirako's previous success, notably his installation Tree, Forest, Mountain, which debuted at the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art in 2025 and featured at Art Basel Unlimited in 2026.
While that earlier installation arranged sculptures on a circular platform to place viewers on equal footing with natural elements, POSTFOREST introduces hanging sculptures that span from floor to ceiling.
Yuichi Hirako Japan, b. 1982 Lost in Thought 262, 2026 acrylic on canvas 248.5 x 333.3 cm
This vertical design encourages visitors to physically navigate through floating forms, creating an immersive experience similar to wandering through an actual forest.
By titling the exhibition POSTFOREST, Hirako acknowledges how definitions of nature continuously evolve.
Rather than viewing shift and transition as loss, he sees it as an opportunity to imagine future relationships between people and the natural world.
Based in Tokyo, Hirako has exhibited widely across international institutions and holds works in prominent global collections.
POSTFOREST invites audiences to re-evaluate humanity's current place in nature and contemplate a shared future.
Yuichi Hirako Japan, b. 1982 Wooden Wood 281
, 2026 acrylic paint on wood 195 x 133 x 98 cm, 102 x 47 x 38 cm
