Refined resistance

sessue hayakawa

steppin’ out of stereotypes

Acrylic and charcoal on paper

70 x 100 cm

One of Hollywood’s earliest Asian stars, Sessue Hayakawa was both charismatic and constrained. Denied equal roles, he built his own studio to portray more complex identities. This portrait honors his elegant defiance. The blue enso — a Zen symbol of imperfection and inner strength — nods to his heritage and his refusal to conform. His resistance wasn’t loud, but it was unmistakable.

An abstract portrait painting of a man in a suit with a blue circle in the background, using vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes.
A colorful abstract portrait of a woman with short hair, wearing a blazer and tie, against a background with blue and yellow circular shapes and splashes of pink, yellow, and blue paint.
A colorful portrait painting of a woman with her hair styled up, wearing a dark blazer, light blouse, and a bow tie. She is sitting with her arms crossed, holding a chain, and looking at the viewer against a warm, textured background with a blue circ

scenes that did not get lost

The Cheat (1915) – Most of this silent classic is lost, but what survives tells the story of a spoiled society woman who steals Red Cross funds and Sessue Hayakawa’s - a dangerously seductive exotic merchant who stakes his claim. A branded shoulder turns a scandal into a courtroom spectacle. The film’s controversial portrayal of Hayakawa sparked his determination to make his own films, defying Hollywood stereotypes. While The Cheat is mostly gone, and msot of his other movies - you can still see Hayakawa on screen in films - talkies - like Bridge on the River Kwai and Tokyo Joe, after his comeback.