Are elephants really gray? The world of colors that only the author Yasuhiro Kobayashi can see [Unusual Communication #5]

"Isai Tsuushin" is a column introducing artists brought to you by Marie ( @Marie_heralbony ), the Isai Evangelist. In addition to the appeal of the works produced by Isai artists, we will deliver it in a chatty style, including wonderful experiences born from the interaction between Heralbony and Isai artists. For all of you who love the "unusual". We will support your tomorrow with content that will help you relax and give you energy.

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Hello, I'm Marie.

This may be a bit sudden, but what color do elephants appear to you?

This elephant, painted in pale green, exudes a unique and gentle atmosphere compared to the familiar gray elephants. To the eyes of a certain unconventional artist, the elephant may appear to be this vivid green. That's what I'll be talking about today.

The color only Yasuhiro Kobayashi can see

Yasuhiro Kobayashi, who painted the aforementioned work "Indian Elephant," is an unusual artist with autism. He is a member of the JOY Club Atelier Bravo, a welfare facility in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. He paints with photographs of world heritage sites and vast landscapes as his motif, and he was also the artist in charge of the "outside" part of the special exhibition "Room and Outside," which was held at HERALBONY GALLERY in Morioka until recently.

By the way, if you look closely at his works, don't you notice something in common?
Yes, green is used a lot.

In fact, Kobayashi has a color blindness disorder, which means he perceives "red" and "green" as the same color.

What time of day do you think this painting depicts?
The sun shining in the blue sky? Or the moon in the night sky?

You'll be drawn into the mysterious scenery that can be seen both day and night.

In fact, the title of this work is "Twilight Moon," which is the twilight sky as seen by Kobayashi.

In addition to "red and green," people with color vision deficiency also perceive colors such as "dark green and brown," "blue and purple," and "light blue and pink" in the same way.

To Kobayashi, the calico cat's pattern is also a bright green.

The sky depicted through Kobayashi's eyes is an enchanting purple color. A fresh and fantastical world that many people find fascinating is something we can experience through his work.

And I believe that each of us sees our own colors, each slightly different.

"Everyone is wonderful because they have their own unique sensibilities." I think Kobayashi's work reminds us of this important truth, which may seem obvious but is often forgotten.

What color does the sunset sky and the calico cat look to you?

A world colored by countless greens

The appeal of Kobayashi's works, which captivate the viewers, is not just due to color sense.

Kobayashi is very particular about the colors he uses when creating his works. To paint one area, he mixes colors multiple times to create a color that he is satisfied with. He doesn't like repainting, so sometimes he mixes colors more than ten times before painting. According to the staff at the facility, by mixing unexpected colors together, colors with greater depth are created.

Here are some works that will give you a sense of that commitment.
The mother and baby polar bears are drawn with colorful outlines, but pay attention to their feet. You can see the subtle differences in tone among the greens and blues that make up the rock formations.

It is a landscape painting that evokes the vast ocean and nature, but if you look closely, you can discover many different shades of blue and green. For example, the deep blue of the ocean is actually painted in subtly different shades, and the trees in the lower right corner of the painting use a variety of greens, from a turquoise green to light green.

Kobayashi, who has such stoic commitment, is also extremely competitive and wants to be the best at what he is good at. That is why he says he is so happy when people notice his exquisite coloring.

Ramen diary that compares instant noodles to gods and Buddhas

Kobayashi loves ramen. He has a particular weakness for limited-edition and new products, and works hard at his job in the hopes of enjoying a cup of ramen on a holiday morning. In his "ramen diary," he records every ramen he has ever eaten, complete with faithful illustrations.
It's a joint work of mother and child, with the mother watching over the colors used in the picture. The illustrations of instant noodles and the impressions after eating them are collected, and there is even a section that is unique to Kobayashi, who has loved Buddhist statues since childhood and has visited countless Shinto and Buddhist temples (he even remembers the exact dates of all his visits!).

<Maruchan Tsugaru Niboshi Ramen "Geki Niboshi" diary>
Thoughts: "It had dried sardine powder in it. When I put it in the ramen, it turned into super dried sardine. It's amazing! It makes me feel energized. And it was delicious!"

In terms of gods and Buddhas: "Aomori is known for the Nebuta Festival, but I'd like to go to Osorezan Bosatsu Temple. I want to see the principal image of Enmei Bodhisattva (one of Japan's three major sacred sites). Sounds a bit scary!"

<Nissin "Chicken Ramen" diary>
Thoughts: "Pour hot water over it for 3 minutes. Boil for 1 minute. Chicken Ramen is the world's first instant ramen. This is definitely number 108."

Are you getting hungry just reading this?

Kobayashi's review, which is also posted on Instagram , is full of his love for ramen, so be sure to check it out.

Each item is limited to one piece. Bring a unique piece into your home

The special exhibition "Room and Outdoor" has ended, but Yasuhiro Kobayashi's works are still available for sale in the online store. Decorating your room with his works may bring new colors into your everyday life. Be sure to find a work that speaks to your heart. *Please note that some works have already been sold.

> Check out the list of Yasuhiro Kobayashi's original artworks and items

Yasuhiro Kobayashi Yasuhiro Kobayashi

Born in 1986. Also known as the Master. He draws photos of his favorite world heritage sites and vast landscapes, simply and methodically. The countless greens are particularly beautiful. He sees red and green as the same color, so the celadon jars are a soft pink and the faces of the people are a light green. He can guess the names of all the Buddhist statues, and whenever he finds a Jizo statue on the roadside, he bows to it. Recently, he has been enjoying a new challenge: embroidery.

>See the production process and items