To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. -ULYSSES by Alfred Lord T...

This poem by Lord Tennyson has been one of my mottoes and the inspiration since my college year. I thank my English professor for introducing us to this.
"...'Tis not to late... ... To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield!"

Beautiful Song from "Spirited Away"

 "Itsumo Nando demo" (Whenever, and as many times) from "Spirited Away"
「千と千尋の神隠し」から　”いつも何度でも”　‐　木村弓

I was able to watch the original Japanese version of "Spirited Away." I've watched it before in English.
It spoke to me deeply partially because it was in Japanese and also I have grown older.
I wanted to share with you my rough translation of this beautiful lyrics, and in doing so, I took the liberty.
The Lyre Ms. Kimura is playing here in the video is very familiar to the Steiner-Waldorf educators, and I have played it before as well.

"Itsumo Nando demo" (Whenever, and as many times)
Music and Vocal by Kimura Yumi
English Translation: Hikaru Miyakawa

"It's calling me from somewhere deep within my bosom(heart),
...wanting to dream the kind of dream where my heart can dance with joy and anticipation...
Though there are countless sadness, beyond it I'm certain that I can find you

Whenever the mistakes are repeated, one gets to realize the blueness of the simple, blue firmament...
Though the path before me may appear to continue forever, these hands can embrace the light.

The silent heart at the moment of its departure, listens intently through the body which is bound to become 'zero,'
...mystery of living,
...mystery of dying,
...(whether it is) the flower, the wind, the city streets - it applies to all

La, la, la...

It is calling from somewhere deep within (me)... (so) let us dream the dream whenever and as many (much) as we can...
Instead of counting and uttering away the sadness, (let us) sing gently with the same lips...

Within the subsiding memory I always hear the whisper that I do not wish to forget.
Even on the shattered pieces of mirror the new scenery is reflected.

In the commencing morning through the silent window,
may the body which is bound to become 'zero,' expand and be fulfilled...
I shall no longer look far beyond the boundary of the sea to find that which shines, for I was able to find it here... and it always have been ...within me"

Giving presentation at TEDx Talks conference in Boulder 2015

Hikaru presenting at TEDx Talks conference in Boulder, Colorado 2015

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrHhqsMADNY 

My presentation at TEDx Talks conference in Boulder, Colorado was titled, "Mastery through Leonardo da Vinci."

As I have mentioned in my talk, I have been following and researching about Leonardo da Vinci ever since I "met" him through the TV show back in 1972 when I was 10 years old.

I was able to paint my rendition of Leonardo da Vinci's "Ultima Cena / The Last Supper", which took me 2,000 hours. (Not a single penny was asked.) The main section took me 1,700 hours back in 1995-1996.I am happy and thankful that it is still on the classroom wall at the Waldorf high school I used to teach.


There are many things I have "realized" through the special experience of being able to share and communicate my ideas to the large group of kind audiences via TEDxBoulder 2015 conference.

First of all, as a performer, I "LOVE" being in front of a large group of people... larger the better!' It was an ecstatic, exhilarating experience facing 2,200 people!
...and at the same time I've realized that many of the Stand-Up comedians are doing this sort of thing weekly! ...without the script (nor the band members) and with a time limit! My admiration to those brave people!
Bravo to all the entertainers, teachers, leaders, and anyone appearing before a large group of the audience!
...but with the help of the kind, patient, understanding audiences... 

I also really appreciate the kind organizers and the crew members for their hard work prepping. We were in good hands.
(image credit: TED / TEDxBoulder)

Mastery through Leonardo da Vinci | Hikaru Miyakawa | TEDxBoulder

As another year draws to a close, I am reflecting on the exciting events which took place this year. There's one event that stands out above the rest. I was selected as one of the 12 presenters to give a presentation at TEDxBoulder 2015 conference back in September. It was a spectacular event, and I am very happy for the co presenters s well.

I'm really honored and happy to know that my presentation at TEDxBoulder 2015 was approved by official TEDx / TED organization, and it is available to be viewed via the youtube channel. 
It is titled, "Master through Leonardo da Vinci."
 
Please enjoy! Thank you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrHhqsMADNY 

(more to follow)

Thank you TEDxBoulder and its wonderful community!

Hikaru Miyakawa

5 Day Art Challenge on Facebook (Day 1)

Day 1 of 5 Day, 3 art per day Challenge
第一日目・１９９０年頃の幻想作品３点

I have been nominated by my friend, Pascal Lecocq, the artist of Blue, to participate in the 5 Day Art Challenge on Facebook, where the nominated artists are invited to share 3 pictures of their work per day for five days. It is always wonderful to be respected by the peers.
After researching, I've found that there are several ways to go about this. For me, I will show my artworks from the past which I have not yet widely shown in the cyber world and nominate at least one artist at the end of the 5 day challenge.
On this initial day, I have upload 3 works from around 1988 - 1990. These are more or less, Visionary-Fantastic works inspired by Viennese Fantastic Realism Movement.
Please enjoy!

Selection 1:
"Triumph of Hercules"
Acrylic on canvas glued to a board
©1988 Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa (Artiste Hikaru)
private collection

"Triumph of Hercules"©1988 Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa 

 

 

Selection 2:
"Griffin turning"
Acrylic and Alkyd on masonite
© 1989 Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa (Artiste Hikaru)
private collection

"Griffin turning"© 1989 Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa

Selection 3:
 "Riddle of Cerberus"
Acrylic on canvas
©1990 Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa (Artiste Hikaru)
lost (damaged beyond repair)

"Riddle of Cerberus"©1990 Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa

Happy Thanksgiving and arigato!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Many of you may already know that "thank you" in Japanese is "Arigato", and it is written as "有難う". It comes from "有難い /arigatai  ," and it roughly means that something which hardly (or hard to) exist - existing rarely /有る事が難しい .  

It might sound paradoxical, but when you reflect on it, it is easily understandable. 

It is to do with the attitude of gratitude and not taking anything for granted. It implies the attitude that everything is a miracle - hard to exist/to be.

There is a legend of Buddha relating to this. (...although the content of this legend varies.)  

One day Buddha had asked one of his disciples what he felt about being a human.  Then Buddha spoke about the story about a blind (or one eyed) sea turtle and a log with a small hole floating / drifting freely and randomly on the ocean. This turtle swims all the time and comes to the surface only once in 100 years. Buddha asked his disciple whether this blind turtle could, by chance, "happen" to stick his head into this hole in the log when he comes to the surface or not. The disciple basically answered that it is nearly impossible, and even if it can happen, it would take billions and trillions of years.
Then Buddha said, "To be born as human is even harder (rarer) than that." So, he taught his disciple(s) to be grateful to be born as human (or being reborn as human after being in the low, hellish levels/states of existence.)

It is true that for us to be born, even without reflecting on how many sperms must die, many thing must happen intricately.

First of all, the entire universe had to be created!!!

Thus, it is miraculous.

Feeling of unquestionable gratitude for being born as human into the vast universe is the first step towards true happiness.  

...and it is our DUTY to be filled with happiness from within and emit such happiness to the surroundings and back to the universe...

Portrait of Isabella d'Este based on the sketch by Leonardo da Vinci

"Isabella d'Este" © 2014 by Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa

"Isabella d'Este" (Homage to Leonardo da Vinci)
Acrylic on canvas
© 2014 by Hikaru Hirata-Miyakawa

Here is my rendition of the portrait of Isabella d'Este based on the sketch supposedly made by Leonardo da Vinci. 

drawing by Leonardo da Vinci
citation: Wikipedia

Although some authorities claim that they have recently discovered the completed authentic Leonardo piece of  the said portrait of Isabella, I disagree with such claim. 
I am ultra conservative when it comes to the authentication of the works especially by Leonardo. 
There seem to be a sort of an inflation of such attribution these days. 
To me the final portrait has never been done by Leonardo, and since Isabella had repeatedly asked Leonardo to do her portrait, I did it in my style instead basing the composition on the drawing "done" by Leonardo.  This painting of mine has nothing to do with trying to complete the painting in Leonardo's manner. 

The painting of mine shown at the top is currently being displayed at eTown Hall in Boulder, Colorado.
It is part of my solo art exhibition (from November 16th, 2014 through January 31st, 2015).