Ryo Hirano (1927-1992) was described as a "painter of the soul" because of his earnestness and persistence in painting, focusing on the state of human beings and society. The Collection Exhibition I features Ryo Hirano, one of Kitakyushu's representative painters, 30 years after his death.

Hirano, who began his career as a self-taught painter during the chaotic postwar period, established his expression of the inner world with his unique brushstrokes amidst poverty and loneliness. Hirano's interest was always in "human beings. Never being carried away by the times, Hirano earnestly confronted people, society, and himself, and continued to gaze intently at them to capture their essence. His works express the universal nature of the human mind, which is sometimes anguished, sometimes anxious, and sometimes contradictory, with profound colors and lines.

Also, during the exhibition period (first half: April 9 - June 12), a special program to enjoy the theater and the artwork at the same time will be held.Gexhibition vol.3 "Gekijo senpai@Hokusai" (The Old Man with a Painting Frenzy)Four ukiyoe prints by Katsushika Hokusai, including "Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji) Kanagawa-okiarani-ura," will be exhibited in conjunction with the performance of

Other works on display include Edgar Degas, "Portrait of Manet and Madame Manet," and Claude Monet, "Water Lilies, Reflections of Willows," which are representative of the museum's work.