Constructed from driftwood, the figurative sculptures of Nagato Iwasaki appear as ancient beings wandering through forests or curious museum-dwellers. The Japanese artist’s talents in composing posture and grace creates an eerily humanistic quality in the works, set apart from the rigid figurative pieces of his contemporaries. Elsewhere, Iwasaki crafts incomplete bodies that, given the material used, seem as though they may be growing or returning to the earth.
Iwasaki’s figures have been created over the past few decades. Most are lifesized, adding to their eerie nature. The artist has practices in illustration, digital art, and mixed-media work.
The artist’s work appears in collections at Stadtische Galerie Rosenheim, Technische Universitat Munchen, Dr Gernot Straka Gallery, and several other spots across the world. He is a recipient of multiple awards, including the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum Awards Grand Prize and Special July Prize, Kirin Plaza Osaka.
