Hiroshi Sugimoto explains how Seascapes began in the 1980s as a way to see what ancient and modern humans share: the unchanged line where sea meets sky. By centering the horizon and removing everything else, he aims for a calm, universal view.

Here are some specific timestamps where he explains the minimalist and conceptual framework:

Compositional Minimalism [07:48]: He describes the horizon line as the “centered center” (oreteddo sentā), meaning the air and water are divided exactly in half, neither being dominant. This deliberately neutral and balanced composition is a core principle of his minimalist aesthetic.

Conceptual Minimalism [11:09]: He outlines the philosophical drive for such a stripped-down image. He realized that the terrestrial land surface has been entirely altered by humans, but the sea is the only element that could offer an image a modern person could share with ancient humans before civilization began. The minimal composition represents the one universal, timeless vision.

Philosophical Minimalism [12:33]: Connects the Seascapes to a call for reflection on human society. He expresses a hope that viewing the essential, pure seascape, a minimal state of Earth, will serve as an opportunity for humanity to reconsider the uncontrolled expansion of desire and capitalism before potential self-destruction.

Link to: Hiroshi Sugimoto Wesbite