Japanese artist Yoshihiro Suda creates hyper-realistic sculptures of plants and flowers in the tradition of Japanese woodcarving. Born and raised near the foot of Mt. Fuji, Suda had been immersed in an environment of rich nature, which went on to inspire his work after moving to Tokyo in the 1990s.
The skilled artist’s craft work render his pieces so close to their original plant that we don’t realize they’re made from wood until close, intimate observation. They serve as an homage to traditional Japanese woodcarving and netsuke but, at the same time, also find their place in the contemporary practice of installation. Suda strategically places his works in the cracks of walls or the air pockets of concrete, allowing viewers to discover them in unexpected places.
If you’ve ever been on the art tour at Naoshima’s Benesse House Museum the curator may have pointed out his “Weeds” installation (below) where the artist placed tiny wood-carved weeds along a concrete wall; easily missed if you had not been looking for them.
Now through March 22, 2020, Suda’s work is on display in Tokyo at The Ginza Space. It’s part of a joint-exhibition with mother-daughter textile artists Fukumi and Yoko Shimura.
February 29, 2020 at 9:10 am
So lovely and delicate!