94-Year-Old Dementia Patient Still Holds Brush... Master of Hyperrealism [Ilbonin Side]

After Dementia, Working with Colored Pencils Instead of Brushes
Recent Solo Exhibition Successfully Concluded

They say life is short and art is long, and there is a painter who cannot put down the brush even at the age of 94. Despite suffering from dementia and receiving care at home, his passion for his work remains strong.

Kaoru Ueda, known as a master of hyperrealism in Japan, recently attracted attention by holding a solo exhibition at the Takamatsu City Museum of Art. Notably, he exhibited 30 works drawn in a sketchbook while battling dementia, which became a hot topic. Today, we share the story of Kaoru Ueda, a famous painter featured in Japanese art textbooks.

Mr. Kaoru Ueda drawing a picture. (Photo by Kaoru Ueda Homepage)

Born in 1928, Ueda is a master of the 'hyperrealism movement,' meticulously rendering subjects like jelly on a spoon and a dripping raw egg as if photographed. His paintings are characterized by an unparalleled level of detail, often appearing in Japanese art textbooks.

He entered Tokyo University of the Arts in 1954, majoring in oil painting. After working in abstract art and design, he began practicing hyperrealism in the 1970s. He gained recognition in the art world after being selected for the 7th Japan Art Festival. His fame gradually spread overseas, with institutions like the National Museum of Modern Art in Mexico acquiring his works.

Exhibition poster featuring Kaoru Ueda's representative work 'Raw Egg A'. (Photo by Kaoru Ueda official website)

Having devoted his life to art with passion, Ueda began to feel physical limitations after undergoing heart surgery in November 2020. Dementia symptoms appeared during his hospitalization after the surgery, making it impossible for him to create the intricate expressions he once showed. Now, on good days, he can engage in conversation, but there were concerns that his artistic world might have come to an end.

However, he started drawing new, simple-style pictures using colored pencils. He still manages to create realistic depictions by referring to field guides or real objects, such as hermit crabs, which inspired the hyperrealism movement.

His spouse conveyed in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun, "Dementia does not destroy everything. It is important to continue doing what one can."

Colored pencil drawing by Kaoru Ueda. (Photo by Kaoru Ueda YouTube)

In fact, many people were moved by his colored pencil works exhibited at the solo exhibition held until the 18th, saying, "As expected, a painter never puts down the brush," appreciating his continued artistic activity.

The Asahi newspaper evaluated, "Ueda’s new realism is touching people."

Mr. Ueda, who is painting with his wife. (Photo by Kaoru Ueda, YouTube)

On his YouTube channel, videos of him drawing with colored pencils alongside his wife have been uploaded, and viewers have expressed being moved by his ability to freely create art despite his physical difficulties.

At 94 years old, despite dementia and a weak heart, his burning artistic spirit reminds us that age is truly just a number.