woods by shigeo toya

 

 

the sculptures of shigeo toya appear ancient, almost fossilized. death and decay in a geologic sense are interconnected themes in his work. the sculptures are carved from large blocks of lumber and stand upright like a tree trunk. grouped together they form a forest and conjure up images of primeval plants and trees. by using a chain saw to gouge fossil-like shapes into the large blocks of wood, the series redefines the concept of sculpture from an eastern standpoint.

 

 

 

 

woods

 

combining the simplicity of minimalism with the gaudy decorativeness of baroque art, shigeo toya’s work from the last years has been based on a tense duality that he terms ‘minimalbaroque’. the japanese artist found the exuberantly decorative  it in the knotted, complex structures of gnarled trees and forests. in recent years he has been experimenting with making multiple linear cuts in the wood, which form crease-like patterns. with these creases, the interior and exterior meld into each other

 

 

 

woods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

minimalbaroque

 

 

 

the work cave is two meters high and 1.3 meters across. it has a likeness of a ‘woods’ carved into its front and a human-like figure at the back. there is a hole visible in the middle of the ‘woods’ on the front. when it is viewed from the back, the hole becomes the ear of the human-like figure. by looking at the ‘woods’ scenery, you hear its voice: in other words, to be a viewer is also to be a listener. toya sees potential in this duality, this idea that a work can be both relief and sculpture. he presents a world where the senses of sight and hearing are one.

 

 

cave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shigeo toya and other 7 japanese artists are currently on show at shugo arts gallery in tokyo until june 29, 2013. all images courtesy shugo arts.