Satoru Koizumi will participate in the exhibition "Pop Infinity", in which artists who are attracting worldwide attention will participate, and will present an official collaboration work with Disney at this exhibition.

Born in 1983, Satoru Koizumi completed the sculpture specialization at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts in 2009 and is now based in Okinawa. He is one of the sculptors who is expected to play an active role in the future, having sold out at various art fairs and gallery exhibitions and expanding his activities to the world.

Koizumi creates a life by sculpture by harmonizing various animals that live in nature, from ferocious to vulnerable, with the faces and figures of humans living in society. The seemingly adorable wood carvings carved with traditional techniques give a glimpse of the artist's deep insight into diverse contemporary societies.

Wood carving is mainly used in the production of Buddhist statues in Japan and boasts a history of about 1500 years. When Buddhism was first introduced to Japan, there were many gold and bronze Buddhas, but eventually wood carving Buddhas made from abundant native trees will become the mainstream. With the rise of Zen Buddhism, which denies idolatry, the sculptures of Buddhist statues that had developed until then gradually declined, and Buddhist masters changed their livelihoods to sculptures of buildings such as columns and pillars of temples and shrines. increase. However, when the samurai era entered a stable period, the wood carving technique that became a traditional craft increased, and artistic works that will remain in posterity as seen in Nikko Toshogu will be produced. In addition, with the evolution of technology, tools such as tea ceremony will be made, and wood carving technology will be required regardless of status. Since the opening of the country, the introduction of modern advanced culture has merged with foreign cultures, and elaborate wood carvings have come to be regarded as a Japanese heritage.

In today's Japan, the word "cute" has a very wide range of subjects, and its definition is ambiguous. This word used to be just one adjective replaced by English words such as “pretty” and “cute”, but with the export of Japanese subculture, “wabi” cannot be translated into a foreign language. It has gradually come to be recognized as one of the Japanese aesthetic categories alongside "rust". In modern times, in addition to the original meaning of cuteness for smallness and childhood, a new feeling of cuteness from the attachment and softness of the things that are higher than you, sacred, or even ugly. Values are born. Along with that, works of contemporary art that have cute qualities in the foreground have come to the fore. There are various characteristics such as childhood, fragility, gorgeousness, and loveliness, but it is difficult to see the stylistic unity of the extremely diverse works of artists who have begun to play an active role internationally. increase.

The uniqueness of Koizumi's work lies in the coexistence of conflicting elements such as tradition and innovation, strength and weakness, nature and civilization, and society and individuals. The addition of new cuteness to the wood carvings that were once the object of worship, and the fact that what you see through your work is extremely ambiguous is a major attraction of contemporary artist Koizumi. "It's not the expression of which way of life is good or bad, but the way of life of a person," says the writer.

In this exhibition, the first collaboration work with Disney "Mickey" will be exhibited. Koizumi's work, which usually has a slightly uneasy expression, also smiles with the help of Mickey Mouse. In addition, the original work "Without Bucket" will be exhibited at the venue as a large sculpture. In addition, Disney official limited collaboration sculptures and related goods will be on sale.

Please look forward to Disney's official exhibition "Pop Infinity" in which Satoru Koizumi participates.