EXHIBITIONS

Tomohiro Inaba THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE

2021.12.17 [fri] – 2022.2.10 [thu]

YUKIKOMIZUTANI

Tomohiro Inaba '星の足音 (Hearing footsteps left by a star)', Iron, Urethane paint, Acrylic paint, h960×w1000×d400 mm, 2021

YUKIKOMIZUTANI is pleased to present Tomohiro Inaba’s exhibition “THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE”. Tomohiro Inaba forges sculptures which purposefully incorporates “blanks”. “Blanks” welcome the viewer’s imagination to take an active part in storytelling. In his first solo exhibition at YUKIKIKOMIZUTANI, we will feature deer and sheep sculpture series forged with steel wire, and other animal motifs that the artist has been working on throughout his career. In addition to his previous works, he presents new motifs such as alpacas rendered in “squares” and foxes realized in “stars”. “THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE” will be unveiled on December 17 (Fri.) 2021, and will remain on view until February 10 (Thu.), 2022. ( Winter Closure from December 26, 2021 to January 10, 2022.)

 

I would like my creations to be “sculptures which engage with the viewers imagination”. I believe art has the strength in bringing viewers a “fruitful time”, to fantasize about something the eyes cannot see. Sculptural expression is the act of articulating thoughts and feelings through the form and existence of an object. However, I fuse formless “blanks” into my work to arouse the viewers’ imagination. “Blanks” make room for stories to develop. By merging sculptural form with the viewer’s imagination, sculptural expression reaches new heights no longer bound by physical limitations. In sharing what the structural forms evoked with other viewers, we can recognize and cherish the richness in diverse ways of thinking. In a time when diversity and inclusion are being challenged, I pray with my work for continued inclusivity and mutual understanding which brings day-to-day peace.

– Tomohiro Inaba

 

Inaba believes that art has the capacity to prompt imagination. With the use of free space, he has been creating works that prompts us to imagine things that we cannot see. His works are formed by bending multiple steel wires over and over as if drawing in space. The instantaneous bend of a line represents a moment when form changes. Every exaggerated bend equates to a cornerstone, and several bends on a line form a narrative. The works shown in this exhibition embodies several symbols and motifs. The “star” is a symbol that many people have an implicit image of based on religion, astronomy, views on life and death, tales and stories. “Square” is another symbol which Inaba associates with macro entities such as the society. The “square” is reminiscent of establishments and organizations we encounter in our world today.

 

For his sculptures with free space, he took inspiration from ancient ruins that are excavated from the ground and the “blanks” raising questions: what they originally looked like, why they crumbled and are lost to history. With conscious clarity, he deems the function of a sculpture as not to blend into the surrounding landscape to become one with it, but rather to stand-alone and push the viewer’s imagination and to develop varying interpretation. For Inaba, “blanks” in his artwork allow narratives to be drawn by the touch of the viewer’s imagination. Imagination gives individuality to the artwork and gives life to the animals that Inaba creates.

 

The sensibility to appreciate empty and free space runs through various aspects of Japanese culture. In modern society saturated in all sorts of stimuli, contemplating on the imperceptible may be an artist’s idea of a “fruitful time”. In this exhibition, we hope you enjoy Tomohiro Inaba’s latest work.

 

Tomohiro Inaba

Born 1984 in Tochigi, Japan. 2011, received Ph.D. from Bunsei University of Art (Tochigi).

Inaba believes that art has the capacity to prompt imagination. Inaba creates sculptures which prompts us to use our imagination to contemplate on things we cannot see. As if brush strokes have been suspended in midair, steel wires are bent to create sculptures with stories. Most recently, his works have been exhibited and installed in U.S., Korea and Dubai. Notable works: Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale 2012 (Tsumari, Niigata), TOKYO DESINERS WEEK 2014 in Milano -Tokyo Imagine-(Milano, Italy), 2019 “A PLACE FOR STARS” at the Lodz central bus terminal (Lodz, Poland).

'THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE' 2021, YUKIKOMIZUTANI

'THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE' 2021, YUKIKOMIZUTANI

'THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE' 2021, YUKIKOMIZUTANI

'THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE' 2021, YUKIKOMIZUTANI

'THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE' 2021, YUKIKOMIZUTANI

'THE STORIES THAT YOU SEE' 2021, YUKIKOMIZUTANI