029: Hiro Kurashina
Hiro Kurashina, Ph.D. is an accomplished photographer who also serves as the Emeritus Director of the Micronesian Area Research Center and President of the UOG Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars.
Lagoon at Sunset (Guam, USA)
Hiro Kurashina
An archaeologist by trade, Dr. Kurashina earned his BA, MA, and Ph.D. in anthropology with an emphasis on Old World Archaeology from the University of California—Berkeley. He has conducted field research in Marianas, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Indonesia over the past three decades.
Meanwhile, his lifelong passion for photography has made him an award-winning figure in the field, where he continues to explore and contribute to the art world through his lens even in his retirement. His work has been featured in publications such as National Geographic. His achievements also earned him numerous distinguished awards such as the CNMI Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award through the NMI Council for the Humanities and a Congressional Record Citation in the US House of Representatives.
Hundreds of tiny LED lights illuminate the cold winter night in downtown Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
Hiro Kurashina
Dr. Kurashina embraces the Oxford Dictionary's definition of art as the expression of human creativity and imagination, particularly in visual forms like painting and sculpture. He finds beauty and emotional power in these works. His personal choice of photography as his preferred art form stems from his deep love for capturing moments and compositions through the lens, a medium he has cherished since his high school and college years, which provided him the freedom to explore his potential and dreams.
Cities: Another Day in Nagasaki (Nagasaki, Japan)
Hiro Kurashina
Dr. Kurashina idolizes many professional photographers, including Lynn Johnson, Annie Griffiths, Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. He draws significant inspiration from the stunning images featured in National Geographic Magazine. When facing creative blocks, he turns to the works of these admired photographers to reignite his motivation and find new inspiration.
His signature in photography lies in his geometric compositions and capturing unexpected moments, a style recognized during a portfolio review by a National Geographic editor. His process is straightforward, involving the use of digital cameras and post-processing images with Adobe Lightroom. Despite the challenges many artists face, Kurashina finds joy in the act of creating, rarely struggling with his work. The surrounding beaches of Guam as well as his motherland of Japan often serves as the subject and backdrop for his evolving artistry.
Fisherman at Sunset in Color (Guam, USA)
Hiro Kurashina
Dr. Kurashina believes that artists play a crucial role in society by inspiring and giving hope through their unique creative expressions, as articulated by a quote: "Artist as Inspiration Creative expression is vital to a healthy and open-minded society." Over time, his work has evolved from simple snapshots to carefully-composed photographic art.
Urban Reflection in Color (Tokyo, Japan)
Hiro Kurashina
He advises aspiring artists to simply enjoy the creative process, embracing the freedom that comes with self-expression and creativity.
To read Dr. Kurashina’s full interview, continue reading below. Also, check out his amazing photography portfolio on YouPic, which has garnered over 4 million views. Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview for our readers!
Traditional Style Japanese Architecture (Tokyo, Japan)
Hiro Kurashina
Please introduce yourself and describe what you do.
I am a retired UOG scholar/administrator. Currently, I hold the titles of the Emeritus Director of the Micronesian Area Research Center and the President of the UOG Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars.
How would you define art?
One can define art in so many creative ways. Personally, I like the definition given by the Oxford Dictionary: “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”
Why did you choose your art form?
In my case, I chose Photography as my preferred art form because I love photography.
How did your high school/college years affect the work you make today?
The high school/college years gave me so much self-freedom to explore my potential and future dreams.
Who do you idolize?
There are many professional photographers whom I idolize. They include such famous photographers as Lynn Johnson, Annie Griffith. Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams, Richard McCully, Sebastiao Salgado, Henri Cartier Bresson, to name only a few.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Mostly from the National Geographic Magazine.
What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?
I enjoy seeking motivation or inspiration through looking at fine photographic images by those photographers I mentioned above.
What do you like incorporating most into your art?
What I enjoy incorporating most into my photography are geometric compositions and unexpected moments.
What is something that you add to your art as your signature?
When I had a portfolio review by the National Geographic Editor, he thought my signature was in my geometric composition.
Take us through your process for making art.
The process of making my art is simple and straightforward - I take digital images using digital cameras and postprocess the images using Lightroom.
What do you struggle with the most when making art?
It is hard to say if I struggle when making my photographs. I always enjoy doing it.
What role do artists have in society?
This quote is from a website and I agree with what it says: “Artist as Inspiration Creative expression is vital to a healthy and open-minded society. Artwork inspires people, gives them hope and can touch a soul in a way that words cannot. The artist has a unique skillset to influence, inspire, and help others.”
What characteristics do you think all artists share?
Please see the above quote from a website. I agree with it.
What’s your favorite place in Guam?
My favorite place in Guam is the surrounding beaches.
How has your artwork evolved over time?
My photographic work has evolved over time from taking snapshots to well-composed photographic art.
Why did you choose to become an artist?
It gives me an enormous amount of freedom for self-expression and self-creativity.
Is your art geared towards a specific audience?
It is geared towards anybody who can appreciate my photographic expressions.
Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?
Just enjoy what they do as being creative artists.
