Hayato Matsushita
Hmerica (Hermerica)
Digital print on canvas
38 x 28"
1/1

Artist Statement

Hmerica (Hermerica), 2024

In Hmerica (Hermerica), Hayato Matsushita reexamines the first letter "A" in "the united States of America" from the handwritten Declaration of Independence. In Timothy Matlack's 1776 script, the letter opens outward and can be seen as a map of Philadelphia. Its outer curves echo the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, while the central cross aligns with Market Street and Broad Street, the main axes of William Penn's 1682 city plan.

Beneath the letter stands Independence Hall, where the Declaration was signed. The work suggests that Philadelphia was not only the birthplace of independence, but the symbolic heart of the nation.

The title combines "America" with Hermetic philosophy, pointing to the idea that the nation's founding was both political and philosophical, grounded in balance, freedom of conscience, and the pursuit of enlightenment.

Artist Bio
Hayato Matsushita is a Philadelphia-based artist whose work explores the hidden symbolism within American history. Drawing from Enlightenment philosophy, sacred geometry, and esoteric traditions, he reinterprets foundational American documents and emblems through a contemporary lens. His practice connects art, history, and symbolic inquiry, inviting viewers to reconsider the visual language of the nation's origins.

His recent projects focus on the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States, examining how early American ideals continue to shape cultural identity today.

hayatomatsushita.com