Inspired Artist Project
About the Artist
Yoshihiro is a Japanese contemporary artist known for his hyper-realistic sculptures of plants and flowers created in the tradition of Japanese wood carving. He was born in 1969 in Yamanashi prefecture at the foot of Mt. Fuji southwest of Tokyo. His intimately scaled carvings reflect the art style of netsuke, a small decorative ornament often made of wood, ivory, or other precious materials that was popular during the Edo period (1600-1868) in Japan. His work also reflects the contemporary practice of installation; he strategically places his small sculptures in unexpected places, such as a crack in the wall, in order to transform the way we view his artworks and their surrounding environment. Suda's first solo museum exhibition in New York; for this installation, he created a sculpture based on a magnolia blossom he found in Central Park.
Reflection
I was initially drawn to this piece because of the simplicity of the concept itself. Upon further inspection, the elaborately fine details caught my eye. While his pieces bear a striking resemblance to living plants, their compositions differ greatly as Suda carves every work out of wood. The artist includes intricate details like leaf veins and small puncture holes in the petals, adding to their realistic qualities. His work inspires me to explore a completely new perspective and encourages me to truly see the things I might otherwise miss.