Artist
Shunsaku Hayashi
Born 1992, Osaka
I am a painter and also a filmmaker. I have made moving-image works that combine stop-motion animation at 12 frames per second with live-action
and experimental footage. Making films and two-dimensional works in parallel
lets their techniques, ways of thinking, and methods of making influence one another, and this has shaped my means of expression.
In the Sequences series, over line drawings that capture fragments of memory and daily life, I layer, in acrylic paint, multiple strata of images resembling digital
errors. As the original line drawings are painted over and scraped away, they remain in the gaps between the images layered on top. Objects and memories from different times of a changing city intermingle, and I depict “layers of time” that overlap even as they weather away.
A sequence is a continuum made up of a succession of scenes. The act of unfolding images
through association is a means of visualizing the concept for my next feature film, which exists in my head. Tracing the intersections of time
and memory, I give concrete form to the flow of thoughts and sensations.
In the Ghost on a Picture series, I overlay line drawings on photographs empty of people, giving rise to new
stories in which traces of the past and imagination intersect. By photographing places where the shapes of objects remain and superimposing line drawings, I bring spectral, drifting presences
to the surface.
In today's rapidly changing world, memories fade easily, and as the times of personal daily life, society, and world affairs
unfold simultaneously, it becomes impossible to believe that they are connected to one another. For me, a work is a device that ties such feelings
and reality together.
and experimental footage. Making films and two-dimensional works in parallel
lets their techniques, ways of thinking, and methods of making influence one another, and this has shaped my means of expression.
In the Sequences series, over line drawings that capture fragments of memory and daily life, I layer, in acrylic paint, multiple strata of images resembling digital
errors. As the original line drawings are painted over and scraped away, they remain in the gaps between the images layered on top. Objects and memories from different times of a changing city intermingle, and I depict “layers of time” that overlap even as they weather away.
A sequence is a continuum made up of a succession of scenes. The act of unfolding images
through association is a means of visualizing the concept for my next feature film, which exists in my head. Tracing the intersections of time
and memory, I give concrete form to the flow of thoughts and sensations.
In the Ghost on a Picture series, I overlay line drawings on photographs empty of people, giving rise to new
stories in which traces of the past and imagination intersect. By photographing places where the shapes of objects remain and superimposing line drawings, I bring spectral, drifting presences
to the surface.
In today's rapidly changing world, memories fade easily, and as the times of personal daily life, society, and world affairs
unfold simultaneously, it becomes impossible to believe that they are connected to one another. For me, a work is a device that ties such feelings
and reality together.
Born 1992, Osaka. Attracted attention from early childhood as a “boy genius artist”, appearing on television, in magazines, and in other media. A solo exhibition at HEP HALL (HEP FIVE 8F) drew more than 10,000 visitors in total. In 2009, also appeared in a TV commercial for Mode Gakuen.
Lived in London from 2012 to 2015 under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists, studying contemporary art at Goldsmiths, University of London. Explores the intersection of painting, animation, and experimental film. Through “stop-motion painting”, in which a large canvas is repeatedly photographed and painted over and the process of change is recorded at 12 frames per second and turned into film, brings to the surface traces of movement, layers of time, and human presence.
Since 2015, works have been selected for more than 100 film festivals: Remember (2015) won the Golden Horseman at Filmfest Dresden, and interstitial (2017) the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival. Railment (2017) won the award for Best Animated Film at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. In 2019, Leaking Life was officially screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2020, served as a presenter at the Student Academy Awards ceremony. Our Pain (2023) received the High Risk Award at Fantoche and the Special Jury Award at Animafest Zagreb. In 2025, presented invisions (monument), a feature-length experimental animation six years in the making, at Animafest Zagreb.
In autumn 2025, began a one-year residency in Berlin, Germany, with support from the Pola Art Foundation. A two-month solo exhibition is scheduled from July 2026 at Kunstquartier Bethanien, an arts center in Berlin.
Lived in London from 2012 to 2015 under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists, studying contemporary art at Goldsmiths, University of London. Explores the intersection of painting, animation, and experimental film. Through “stop-motion painting”, in which a large canvas is repeatedly photographed and painted over and the process of change is recorded at 12 frames per second and turned into film, brings to the surface traces of movement, layers of time, and human presence.
Since 2015, works have been selected for more than 100 film festivals: Remember (2015) won the Golden Horseman at Filmfest Dresden, and interstitial (2017) the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival. Railment (2017) won the award for Best Animated Film at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. In 2019, Leaking Life was officially screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2020, served as a presenter at the Student Academy Awards ceremony. Our Pain (2023) received the High Risk Award at Fantoche and the Special Jury Award at Animafest Zagreb. In 2025, presented invisions (monument), a feature-length experimental animation six years in the making, at Animafest Zagreb.
In autumn 2025, began a one-year residency in Berlin, Germany, with support from the Pola Art Foundation. A two-month solo exhibition is scheduled from July 2026 at Kunstquartier Bethanien, an arts center in Berlin.
Exhibition history
Selected Exhibitions and Awards
2023 Fantoche International Animation Film Festival (Switzerland) < High Risk Award >
Animafest Zagreb (Croatia) < Special Jury Award >
Holland Animation Film Festival (Netherlands) < Audience Award >
Paris International Animation Film Festival (France) < Special Award >
2022 Ann Arbor Film Festival (USA) < Special Jury Award >
2019 Gijón International Film Festival (Spain) < Special Jury Award >
Festival du nouveau cinéma, Montréal (Canada) < Special Jury Award >
2018 Slamdance Film Festival (USA) < Best Animation Award >
Slamdance Film Festival (USA) < Special Award >
Rhode Island International Film Festival (USA) < Best Experimental Film Award >
2017 Ann Arbor Film Festival (USA) < Best Animation Award >
Shuffle Festival (UK) < Best U-25 Award >
2016 Filmfest Dresden (Germany) < Best Animation Award >
2015 Crystal Palace International Film Festival (UK) < Best Animation Award >
2007 Japan Media Arts Festival < Art Division, Encouragement Prize >
Selected Festival Screenings
2025 Animafest Zagreb (Croatia)
2023 Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hong Kong)
Ottawa International Animation Festival (Canada)
2020 Vienna Shorts (Austria)
2019 Berlin International Film Festival (Germany)
Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France)
2018 Melbourne International Animation Festival (Australia)
DOK Leipzig (Germany)
2017 International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (Germany)
2015 Ars Electronica (Austria)
Selected Grants
2025 Pola Art Foundation, Grant for Overseas Study by Young Artists
2019 UniJapan, Overseas Promotion Support
2017 Media Arts Creator Development Support Program
2015 Agency for Cultural Affairs, Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists (3 years)
2012 Nomura Foundation, Art Category, International Exchange Activity Grant
2023 Fantoche International Animation Film Festival (Switzerland) < High Risk Award >
Animafest Zagreb (Croatia) < Special Jury Award >
Holland Animation Film Festival (Netherlands) < Audience Award >
Paris International Animation Film Festival (France) < Special Award >
2022 Ann Arbor Film Festival (USA) < Special Jury Award >
2019 Gijón International Film Festival (Spain) < Special Jury Award >
Festival du nouveau cinéma, Montréal (Canada) < Special Jury Award >
2018 Slamdance Film Festival (USA) < Best Animation Award >
Slamdance Film Festival (USA) < Special Award >
Rhode Island International Film Festival (USA) < Best Experimental Film Award >
2017 Ann Arbor Film Festival (USA) < Best Animation Award >
Shuffle Festival (UK) < Best U-25 Award >
2016 Filmfest Dresden (Germany) < Best Animation Award >
2015 Crystal Palace International Film Festival (UK) < Best Animation Award >
2007 Japan Media Arts Festival < Art Division, Encouragement Prize >
Selected Festival Screenings
2025 Animafest Zagreb (Croatia)
2023 Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hong Kong)
Ottawa International Animation Festival (Canada)
2020 Vienna Shorts (Austria)
2019 Berlin International Film Festival (Germany)
Annecy International Animation Film Festival (France)
2018 Melbourne International Animation Festival (Australia)
DOK Leipzig (Germany)
2017 International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (Germany)
2015 Ars Electronica (Austria)
Selected Grants
2025 Pola Art Foundation, Grant for Overseas Study by Young Artists
2019 UniJapan, Overseas Promotion Support
2017 Media Arts Creator Development Support Program
2015 Agency for Cultural Affairs, Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists (3 years)
2012 Nomura Foundation, Art Category, International Exchange Activity Grant
- Works
- 8 works
Works
SOLDShunsaku Hayashi
sequences #01
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ARCHIVEShunsaku Hayashi
sequences #02
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SOLDShunsaku Hayashi
sequences #03
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sequences #04
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SOLDShunsaku Hayashi
sequences #05
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ARCHIVEShunsaku Hayashi
Ghosts on a Picture: Bunks
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ARCHIVEShunsaku Hayashi
Ghosts on a Picture: Ferry Berths
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ARCHIVEShunsaku Hayashi
Railment
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