Inokashira Park Zoo will be hosting
a special exhibition Sculpture Museum: Art and the Zoo vol. 5, "Move aside, move aside, the boat is leaving—An exhibition of works by metal caster Hiroko Motoyama." This is the fifth installment of "Art and the Zoo*", and it will feature the works of Hiroko Motoyama, a metal caster based in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture.
"Metal casting" is a production technique that involves melting metal and pouring it into a mold. Creating sculptures made of metal, such as bronze, involves a complex process that includes shaping with clay, making a mold, casting (melting the metal and pouring it into the mold), shaping, and coloring. While many of the processes after mold making are handled by specialized craftsmen, Mr. Motoyama not only creates the prototype but also carries out all the processes himself in his studio. A solid mass melts and then solidifies again. Mr. Motoyama's works, which seem to be a dialogue with the material that changes shape freely with the help of the power of fire, are somewhat humorous, and possess both softness and strength within their simple forms.
This special exhibition will focus on bronze sculptures of animals, accompanied by video footage of the creative process. Through Mr. Motoyama's work, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the versatility of metal and the new appeal of sculpture.
Works by Hiroko Motoyama on display in Sculpture Museum B
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| The casting process | The artist performing the casting process. |
Period: January 19, 2019 (Sat) - June 9, 2019 (Sun), 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (until Sculpture Museum closes)
Location: Zoo (Main Park) Sculpture Museum Building B
Exhibitor: Hiroko Motoyama (Metal Caster) →
Official website here
◎ Author's words
The plants and animals that live around me
Their gaze is always direct, and I learn a great deal from them.
When the sun rises it is morning.
When it gets dark, night will come.
When it gets hot, rest in the shade.
When it gets cold, huddle together
When you find something delicious, you want to share it with others.
I'm by your side simply because I love you.
I can't live as purely as they do, but I admire their gaze and,
I want to put into some form the things I realized from that experience.
[Profile of Mr. Motoyama]Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1975.
Completed graduate studies in metal casting at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2003.
[Exhibition]2000 - Continue Art Project (Held annually until 2018)
2010 Hiroko Motoyama Solo Exhibition "The Adorned God" (Metal Art Museum Hikari no Tani)
Many others
[Public Collection]Toride City Archaeological Center (87)
Towada Art Center (Yokodori)
Chinzanso (the god of the garden)
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| Artwork "The Crowned Pigeon" | The work "Feeling Great" | Artwork "87 (Hana)" |
Related event: Workshop "Let's make artwork by melting metal"
You can experience the metal casting process, which involves melting metal and pouring it into a mold, using pewter, a material that is easy to work with, as the raw material. Let's create a one-of-a-kind metal casting masterpiece.
Date and time: Saturday, March 23, 2019
Morning session: 10:00 AM - Afternoon session: 1:30 PM - *Each session is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long.
Target audience: Elementary school students and older
Capacity: 10 people per session *Advance registration required
*For details on how to apply, please see
here.
Workshop image
*What is "Art and the Zoo"?
At Inokashira Park Zoo, we have used a portion of Sculpture Museum to display works by various artists in special exhibitions. We chose this theme to reflect our intention to continue holding exhibitions that connect art and the zoo.
(December 13, 2018)
(February 1, 2019: Added workshop link)
