Yusuke Hanai

A Most Happy Balance

- Gwynned Vitello

Yasuki Hanae’s surfers, tipsy revelers and peaceful family of protestors, are neither victor nor victim. The surfer is one with the wave, the drinkers are propped up by gravity and each other, and the protestors will bundle up and be back tomorrow. Like the title of one of his shows, It Will Be Alright, Hanai reminds us that we've all been there and done that, but tomorrow is another day. Modestly calling himself an illustrator who “draws pictures to ease the mind,” he is a grateful observer of the world around him, seeing the stories and distilling them with great empathy into images that aim to be “solid and beautiful.” A curvy green leaf, floating sea creature and stubbly bearded truck driver all have a place on this earth, each deserving a full measure of dignity.

Gwynned Vitello: When I walk my dog in the morning, especially on the weekends, I laugh when I see huge TV screens through the windows, so many of them showing cartoons, and surprisingly, so many old ones that generations of kids have grown up with. One of my favorites was Bugs Bunny being captured by hungry humans, slowly being lowered into a cauldron of hot water, dipping his carrot in and munching away. You must have had a similar experience.