Faculty of Arts
Department of Fine Arts

●Japanese Painting
●Oil Painting
●Sculpture

Through rigorous core training and a diverse curriculum, the Department of Fine Arts is dedicated to providing students with a solid foundation upon which to build their portfolio. In each of the three programs, an emphasis is placed upon the historic, philosophical, and scientific backgrounds underlying each system of expression. Practical training is coupled with academic courses to encourage critical thinking from a broad perspective, as well as provide a tool for integrating studio work into its place in the contemporary field. The Department of Art aims to help developing artists grow and contribute to a new era in the arts.

Japanese Painting

Students develop skills through a wide variety of aesthetic traditions, from foundational skills to practice in unique expression.

●Learning Goals

The Japanese Painting course seeks to inspire a new generation of painters in the long tradition of Japanese Painting. In an open and creative environment, the course aims to expand the possibilities of artistic expression within the field, and support developing artists in contributing to the ongoing history of an important cultural tradition.

●Curriculum

In our comprehensive four-year curriculum, students will gain a strong foundation in drawing, technical skills, and the tools for self-expression. In the first year of study, emphasis is placed on the development of basic skills and the study of painting materials, in addition to studio time. In the second and third years, students will have the opportunity to expand their field of knowledge, drawing inspiration through study tours and sketching trips, and focus on honing their skills. Fourth year students are required to produce a final project which represents the culmination of their studies. The curriculum places a heavy emphasis on sketching as the foundation of expression in painting. The course also offers classes exploring the techniques required in the reproduction of classic works, as well as special classes in techniques such as urauchi, gold leaf painting, and silver leaf painting.

●Careers After Graduation

The Japanese Painting Course is committed to training outstanding artists with qualifications including teaching and curator’s licences. Graduates of this program find employment at educational institutions and research facilities, in promoting art, and in the development of local culture. Many graduates advance their careers as professional artists, and actively feature in competitive art exhibitions and solo shows, while others move onto higher education, or find employment in the business community.

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Oil Painting

Exploring new possibilities in the creation and expression of paintings through rigorous training and practice.

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●Learning Goals

Oil painting is representative of traditional Western painting. Learning oil painting therefore involves an inquiry into the history and philosophies that underlie this form of art. This course aims to provide a practical education that helps students to better understand the essence of Western painting and obtain the skills to express themselves more effectively. Throughout the program, students will study methods of realistic representation, and work towards finding their own unique paths as artists. Our educational goal is to foster talented individuals in the art of oil painting, while seeing the present era from a wider perspective.

●Curriculum

In our comprehensive four-year curriculum, students will gain a strong foundation in drawing, technical skills, and the tools for self-expression. In the first year of study, training will focus on sketching. In the second year, the curriculum will center on the creation of oil paintings, seminars on materials and technique, and skills training classes. First and second year students will also learn chalcography and lithography, and acquire discursive training in creating planar works. In the third year, emphasis is shifted to production, and students will deepen their skills in their preferred area of focus. Fourth year students are required to produce a final project which represents the culmination of their studies. The course also offers students the opportunity to take part in a study tour in Italy, where they can gain a firsthand experience of classical masterpieces in Western culture.

●Careers After Graduation

Graduates of this program may opt to advance their studies in graduate programs, or enroll in schools overseas to receive more specialized education. Others continue their pursuit as artists by featuring in solo shows, competitive or themed exhibitions, or engaging in arts-related professions as economically independent members of society. Some of our graduates achieve gainful employment as high-profile professional artists, while others find careers in their field as educators and curators. Graduates of this program also make use of the techniques acquired in their undergraduate years in such industries as design, animation, and media.

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Sculpture

Exploring new ways of sculptural expression through the exploration of various materials such as wood, stone, and metal, rigorous practical training, and theoretical studies of art and culture.

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●Learning Goals

Requiring students to work with actual objects and space, the Sculpture Course emphasizes hands-on, experience-based learning. The curriculum centers on practical training in molding and carving using stone, wood, and metal, and also promotes theoretical discourse through numerous field trips throughout the program. The core of the curriculum is to encourage students to manipulate materials with their own hands, while gaining wisdom through artist talks, and investigations into the role of art in society. Inquiry into historical modes of representation to modern day expressions will deepen their understanding of this role and motivate new explorations into sculptural expression.

●Curriculum

The course’s four-year curriculum is designed to help students learn how to execute their ideas, primarily through practical training in molding, which constitutes the foundation of sculpture. An emphasis is placed on basic carving techniques, referencing the skeletal structure of the human body and organic forms in nature. Students will build a basis for their work, through a thorough exploration of Eastern and Western art histories. In the first and second years, students engage in learning and production to obtain fundamental skills and knowledge with respect to material such as wood, stone, and metal. In the third and fourth years, students work in their chosen field of specialization on independent study projects.

●Careers After Graduation

Each year, more than half of the graduates from the undergraduate course enroll in graduate programs to pursue a higher level of excellence in arts and research. Graduates also have the opportunity to further their studies at art colleges overseas. Many graduates pursue careers as artists, entering teaching professions, and related fields which allow them to utilize their skills. Many graduates engage the community through solo shows, competitive exhibitions, and group events, in Hiroshima and across the globe. Our graduates work actively in many diverse fields, both locally and internationally.

●Faculty members

• Hiroshima City University Researcher Information