Metaphoric Sculptures

Yoshitoshi Kanemaki is a Japan based sculptor renowned for his bizarre yet lifelike wooden sculptures. We dive into his complex world that questions both mortality and temporality.

- Priyanka Menon

The first thought that hits you when you first run into Yoshitoshi Kanemaki’s sculptures is a sense of wonderment. How can someone create something so grotesque and yet so beautiful at the same time? And it is this dilemma that Kanemaki takes full advantage of. Born in Chiba, a Japanese prefecture, the forty-five year old sculptor has a degree in fine arts from Tama Art University and has been the recipient of several awards and accolades.

Kanemaki’s sculptures are often touted as bizarre and strange. And that is how he intends them to be. His primary agenda is to “stimulate people living in this age to understand and appreciate the importance of being alive.”

Through this, he wants to push further and make people aware of their humanness and the transience of life.

Wood carving doesn’t adhere to only one kind of procedure or method. The craft and science have been around since time immemorial. The materials and tools are also confined to just a few types. Kanemaki uses camphor wood and chisels out giant-sized, life-sized as well as miniature sculptures that question mortality and are reflective of multiple personalities and perspectives.