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Chimeric Sculpture Expressions｜Exhibition Information

The Charm of Contemporary Japanese Sculpture: A Multifaceted Group Exhibition of Immersive Visual Experience

In June this year, the exhibition "Chimeric Sculpture Expressions" will showcase a imaginary utopia of sculptures constructed by six contemporary Japanese artists: Manabu HASEGAWA, Kazuma KOIKE, Yoshiyuki OOE, Gensho SUGAHARA, Naohiro TAKAHASHI, and Sen TAKAHASHI at AKI Gallery. This exhibition would provide an opportunity to see how contemporary Japanese sculpture has continuously integrated influences from various cultures and aesthetics, resulting in the creation of new and profound expressions.

Manabu HASEGAWA (b. 1973)

Through the technique of frottage, HASEGAWA creates works that blur the boundaries between two and three dimensions. With themes revolving around firearms and knives, the works carry heavy historical significance and cultural symbolism, forming a stark contrast with the fragile materiality of the structural medium, pencil and paper. The artist's oeuvres transcend mere visual language of reproducing originals, initiating a dialogue between materials and art, attempting to address the "truth” visible to the naked eye.

Kazuma KOIKE (b. 1980)

KOIKE’s works delved around "imaginary ancient artifacts," creating works spanning ceramic sculpture, painting, and sketches inspired by ancient deities, plants, and animals from cultures of various locations and eras. Through skillful composition, the themes are layered, giving the works a unique sense of tranquility and floatation, as if a blend of multiple timelines.

Yoshiyuki OOE (b. 1980)

OOE’s works are imbued with childhood memories, where reptilian creatures are to Yoshiyuki OOE as mantises are to André Breton, replete with attraction. Since 2007, the artist has gathered various symbols, developing a series that merges insect animals with images of young boys. His surreal artistry has evolved into new meanings, imbuing each viewing experience with a refreshing novelty.

Gensho SUGAHARA (b. 1993)

Employing Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP), also known as fiberglass, as his medium, SUGAHARA delineates modern human figures. He emphasizes subtle visual and tactile sensations and the anonymity of his characters, aiming to provoke sensory and visual associations and reconsider the possibilities of sculpture through the creative process. His expression focuses on revealing emotions through the exterior appearance of figures dressed in contemporary roles, inviting viewers to explore the emotional colors within themselves.

Naohiro TAKAHASHI (b. 1991)

Focusing on the human body, Naohiro TAKAHASHI's works depart from traditional monolithic human statues but rather decomposing body parts into distinct segments. By altering perspectives, his sculptures present multiple three-dimensional facets. The subject is not a fixed image with "absolute correctness". His oeuvres explore the boundary between self and others, capturing the frequencies of shifts in subject-object relationships.

Sen TAKAHASHI (b. 1992)

Formerly a bronze sculpture restorer, Sen TAKAHASHI draws inspiration from his experiences in preserving and restoring contemporary sculptures. He treats carrots using preservation techniques similar to those used for bronze sculptures. By forcing bronze sculptures and carrots (which age at vastly different rates) onto the same timeline, his work questions what will be lost and what will remain. Accepting the artworks involves acknowledging their disappearance, much like acknowledging the existence of things and quietly embracing their uncertainties.

2024.06.29 (Sat) - 08.03 (Sat) we invite you to visit AKI Gallery and embark on a condensed contemporary journey through the unique artistry of six Japanese artists.

Exhibition Details

• Chimeric Sculpture Expressions｜Exhibition
• Date: 29 June - 3 Aug 2024
• Venue：AKI Gallery
• Address：No.141, Min Tsu W. Road, Taipei City

Information Source：Provied by AKI Gallery