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.
The warped and surreal nature of 
In 2013, Chinese artist Zheng Chunhui made international headlines for using his craft to nab one of the Guinness World Records. With more than 40 feet of wood, Chunhui’s piece recreates the beloved "'Along the River During the Qingming Festival," a famous Chinese painting created during the Song dynasty by Zhang Zeduan, nearly 1,000 years ago. (The painting is so highly regarded, it’s often referred to as the Chinese “Mona Lisa.”) Included in the piece are the plants, domestic structures, bridges, and boats that comprise the piece. And let’s not forget 550 individually crafted individuals scattered throughout the scene.
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