Keizo Ushio
Image source Keizo Ushio
Keizo Ushio is one of Japan’s most highly regarded sculptors and is renowned internationally for his extraordinary granite sculptures.
His ingenious carving technique, based on the mathematics of the Moebius strip is extremely difficult to realise in granite, making his work popular with the public and collectors across the world.
Ushio graduated from the Kyoto City of University of Arts in 1976 and, upon receiving First Prize at the Henry Moore Exhibition at the Hakone Open Air Museum in 1979, began developing his signature style of sculpting. His carving technique is influenced by the mathematics of the Moebius strip, typically known as a one-sided, one-edged surface, which is notoriously difficult to create with materials of great weight and density. It is the achievement of this elegant reversed loop using the unyielding medium of granite that makes Ushio’s work at once elegant and astonishing. The artist says of his work,
“I want to tell a story of man’s wisdom, exceeding both space and time. My sculpture is the proof of my existence.”
Ushio has exhibited to international acclaim with his work represented in exhibitions, public locations and private collections in Japan, Spain, Iceland, Norway, Germany, Israel, India, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Ushio’s work has proved extremely popular with Australian collectors and the public alike since he began exhibiting in Australia at Sculpture by the Sea in 1999.
“I remember standing in Marks Park at Bondi in 1999 and dreaming how Sculpture by the Sea would grow over the next 10 years and that I wished to participate for 10 years. More than 10 years have already passed and I have many kinds of dreams about Sculpture by the Sea. Happily, I have exhibited in all Sculpture by the Sea since then in Sydney, Tasmania, Perth and Aarhus. Now I dream to see Sculpture by the Sea go to five continents, including Japan. Personally, one of best dreams to come true is increasing new friends around the world through Sculpture by the Sea.”
Visit: Keizo Ushio, facebook, sculpturebythesea, wikipedia
