Yasushi Koyama
Basic information
Sculptor
Residence: Helsinki
Contact information
Phone number: +358 44 314 5095
Email: yasushikoyama.com@gmail.com
Artist’s Statement
My artworks are animal sculptures described “Cute, innocent and humorous”. Most of my works are made from one piece of wood by using hand chisels. The rich textures of wood sculpturing give people a warm impression.
My wood sculpture has the good mixture between traditional wood sculpturing and contemporary art expression.
I learnt traditional wood sculpturing in Japan, New Zealand, Transylvania and Finland. In Japan I learnt how to use Japanese chisels in Ainu village, Hokkaido. In New Zeland I learnt a traditional wood carving from Maori artist Eruera Ropiha. In Transylvania I learnt how to make a large wood sculpture from Székely artists. In Finland I learnt how to use an axe and other tools in school. All the artists & teachers cherished the traditional way of wood sculpturing mainly using axe and hand chisels.
In the contemporary art context my wood sculpture has the expression of cuteness and positive energy. Finnish painter Katja Tukiainen had an influence on my art for those expressions. And Finnish sculptor Kim Simonsson inspired me with innocence of cartoonish sculpture.
At the same time "Neo-pop art" represented by Japanese painter Yoshitomo Nara and Japanese culture Manga & Anime have had an influence on my art language of cuteness. In addition my experience of Japanese woodblock printmaking has taken effect on my colouring style using simple outlines.
In my artworks Finland meets Japan and Japan meets Finland. The cultural tie between Finland and Japan is constantly renewing even now in my artwork.
My wood sculpture has the good mixture between traditional wood sculpturing and contemporary art expression.
I learnt traditional wood sculpturing in Japan, New Zealand, Transylvania and Finland. In Japan I learnt how to use Japanese chisels in Ainu village, Hokkaido. In New Zeland I learnt a traditional wood carving from Maori artist Eruera Ropiha. In Transylvania I learnt how to make a large wood sculpture from Székely artists. In Finland I learnt how to use an axe and other tools in school. All the artists & teachers cherished the traditional way of wood sculpturing mainly using axe and hand chisels.
In the contemporary art context my wood sculpture has the expression of cuteness and positive energy. Finnish painter Katja Tukiainen had an influence on my art for those expressions. And Finnish sculptor Kim Simonsson inspired me with innocence of cartoonish sculpture.
At the same time "Neo-pop art" represented by Japanese painter Yoshitomo Nara and Japanese culture Manga & Anime have had an influence on my art language of cuteness. In addition my experience of Japanese woodblock printmaking has taken effect on my colouring style using simple outlines.
In my artworks Finland meets Japan and Japan meets Finland. The cultural tie between Finland and Japan is constantly renewing even now in my artwork.
Current information
Hopepage : https://www.yasushikoyama.com/Coming exhibitions :
Solo exhibition ”Herra Otso” at Galleria Ars Libera in Kuopio, Finland 27.5.2022 -19.6.2022
Public art : https://www.yasushikoyama.com/public-art
Interview : Yasushi Koyama : Cuteness and nature in Finnish and Japanese aesthetics
