Kao Comes Face-to-Face with a Face

The Sensory Science Laboratories at Kao Corporation will work with special makeup effects artist and contemporary sculpture artist Kazu Hiro to explore how a face expresses a person’s individuality. Once the project commences, Kazu Hiro will be creating sculptures of beautiful faces radiant with individuality. By analyzing his process from a scientific perspective, Kao hopes to build up a store of knowledge and expertise that will make it possible to bring out the individuality of every face.

On one level, Kao’s researchers will apply principles of dermatology, optics and color science to search for the key physical features that make skin appear real. On a second level, they will use principles of psychology, brain science and facial science to discover how a person expresses her inner nature. The ultimate goal, according to the company, is to develop a process to convey a new sense of beauty that eludes the influences of age and preconceptions. The findings from this joint research will empower Kao to help realize a society where the individuality of every woman stands out. 

Hiro is the first Japanese to win the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hair Styling. His creativity and technical abilities have taken him to the top of his profession in Hollywood, where he has long been based. Recently he has shifted his focus to fine art sculptures, using his skills to create larger-than-life, ultra-realistic faces. A hallmark feature of Hiro’s facial sculptures is his method for reproducing intricate traits such as the redness of the capillaries and tiny wrinkles using a technique to recreate skin exactly as it appears to the naked eye. Anyone who sees a Kazu Hiro sculpture wonders how he so faithfully reproduces the translucence, colors, and textures of actual skin. Part of his skill comes from his acute sensitivity. Researchers at Kao believe that his talents can bring new perspective into their work in skin science.