Ikuo Hirayama

Ikuo Hirayama

Ikuo Hirayama was a prominent Nihonga painter active from the Showa to Heisei era and also a dedicated educator. Born in 1930 in Setoda (now Onomichi City), Hiroshima Prefecture, he was exposed to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during his middle school years, suffering from radiation-related health issues. Confronting the fear of death, he completed "The Arrival of Buddhism", inspired by Xuanzang, which was selected for the prestigious Inten exhibition. This marked the beginning of his lifelong exploration of themes related to Buddhism and the Silk Road. In addition to these subjects, he also painted landscapes and cultural heritage sites of Japan. Beyond his artistic achievements, Hirayama was deeply committed to cultural heritage preservation, actively working to protect and restore historical monuments worldwide.