Hideshi Yoshida - 挑戦者たち (The Challengers)

Contemporary Woodblock Print

An extraordinary, large-scale limited-edition work from Hideshi Yoshida’s Agnahuecom-Land series, depicting the grueling X-Rock Climbing Race: pilots guide 4.55 m-tall NovorayZ robots up ever-changing walls of rock, glass and metal in a test of skill, teamwork, endurance and luck. 🤖 💪🚀 Hideshi Yoshida comments:

今年もX-ロッククライミング・レースのシーズンがやってまいりました。このレースは FROSKEYのロッククライミング用ロボット、NovorayZを操縦して果てしなき頂上を目指す非常 に3過酷な競技です。競技者が登る壁面は様々な傾斜や障害物があるだけでなく、岩やガラス、金 属等多種多様な素材で構成されている事が特徴です。また天候も晴天だけではなく、雨、雪、嵐 と刻々と変わります。このレースではパイロットの操縦テクニックだけではなく、サポートメン バーとの連携、忍耐力そして時の運も味方につけた者だけが勝利を手にする事が出来ると言えま す。 さて、ここでNovorayZの簡単な説明をしましょう。全高は4m55cm、エネルギー源として FusioNeo Systemを1基搭載。手の平と足の裏に搭載された特殊吸着パッド（通称：YamoriHand）で壁面に機体を固定しながらよじ登ります。Yamori-Handはプラズマ周波数を変化させ る事によりその性質を大きく変化させることが可能です。歩行モードでは硬く丈夫な状態。クライ ムモードでは柔軟で強い吸着力を持つ状態に変化させます。 またバックパックは換装可能。基本装備としてパラシュートや修理用部品と工具、食料が収納 されています。 果たして今年の栄冠はどの競技者の手に渡るのでしょうか？乞うご期待！

The X-Rock Climbing Race season has arrived again this year. 🏆 This race involves piloting FROSKEY's rock-climbing robot, NovorayZ, to reach the summit. The race is extremely challenging, with various slopes, obstacles, and diverse materials such as rocks, glass, and metals on the wall, along with changing weather conditions. Victory in this race requires not only the pilot's skills but also teamwork, perseverance, and luck. NovorayZ stands 4.55 metres tall and is powered by a single FusioNeo System. It uses special adhesive pads (Yamori-Hand) on its hands and feet to climb walls. These pads change their properties by altering the plasma frequency, becoming hard and durable in walking mode and flexible with strong adhesion in climbing mode. The backpack is replaceable, typically containing a parachute, repair parts, tools, and food. *The competition is so tough that no competitor has ever made it to the top.

• Year & Edition: 2004 · Ed. of 10 (signed, editioned & dated in pencil to plate).
• Medium: Woodblock print carved on Shina Japanese plywood & printed on gampi & kōzo papers.
• Dimensions: Sheet H: 111.00 cm × W: 70.00 cm (Image H: 91.00 cm × W: 50.00 cm).
• Condition: Mint, direct from the artist’s studio.

About the Artist

Hideshi Yoshida (b. Hokkaido) is a Tokyo-based contemporary printmaker celebrated for his meticulous wood-engravings (木口木版) and vibrant woodblock prints. He transports viewers into surreal realms - ranging from charming animal scenes to visionary landscapes inspired by Lovecraft, Carroll and Stevenson - while centering his own Sci-Fi universe, Agnahuecom-Land, and the tech-driven mega-corporation FROSKEY Inc., powered by the mythical element Rabbitanium. Yoshida’s richly detailed narratives and fantastical precision have earned him international acclaim, with works held at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology (Poland) and the St. Nikolai Municipal Museum (Belgium). Kumo Arts is proud to showcase his enchanting worlds. [ ← View All Works by Hideshi Yoshida]