Gallery Naruyama
“Kosuke Ikeshima”
2024 May 14th (TUE) – June 5th (WED)

TOGA AOYAMA the second flagship store in Tokyo, has launched a new exhibition project TOGA TRIANGLE. For the third exhibition of this collaborative project with Gallery Naruyama, we will be exhibiting the works of sculptor, Kosuke Ikeshima.

Gessyoku / 2014 / 162x65x55cm / Camphorwood ©Kosuke Ikeshima

Kosuke Ikeshima’s wood sculptures are finished only using a knife and without a file, leaving the original texture of the wood to stand out. By merging traditional Japanese wood carving techniques with western influenced interpretations, he creates sculptures that portray his perspective of myths and views on life and death.Being also interested in Miya-bori (shine carving), he recently carved the main gates of Mt. Hanaki Shorin temple in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture.

Hyena / 2014 / H80×W135×D37cm / Camphorwood ©Kosuke Ikeshima

“The fear of death that comes from living, worries towards all kinds of ignorance and contradictions, all of these life problems are the result of expectations and reality colliding. This is desire, and desire blinds people.
I cannot help but think that in the midst of the truth of nature, we are dubious, short-lived fragile beings. Openly expressing the existence of what is meant to be without being bound by logic or legitimacy, though should be approached with care, I believe that there is no need to make eccentric remarks.”
Kosuke Ikeshima

This exhibition will showcase 6 carved wood sculptures including a life-sized female sculpture, a painted moth, and carvings of mundane scenes from everyday life. Enjoy the different creatures that have come to life through wood sculpting.

In the Morning / 2016 / 280x115x70mm / Cherry, Japanese cypress

©Kosuke Ikeshima

SUSANOO / 2020 / 62x26x12cm /Cherry

©Kosuke Ikeshima

#03 / 2018 / 4.5x25x11cm / Cherry

©Kosuke Ikeshima

Gallery Naruyama

Gallery Naruyama opened in 1997 with a collective exhibition of photographer Wilhelm von Gloden. Since then, the gallery has continued to question ‘new value’ and collects works based on science, medicine and anthropology. From Atsushi Suwa who depicts the deepest inner sides of his subjects through meticulous interviews, Cosima von Bonin who is unique at first glance but possess a sense of irony, the gallery has also introduced young talents from Japan such as sculptor Kosuke Ikeshima, painter Yugo Kohrogi, photographer Momo Okabe and graphic writer WANTO. The gallery also has a collection of surrealists Pierre Molinier, Hans Bellmer, Cecil Beaton, Tamotsu Yato, medical photographs from the Meiji period, and photographs of Conan Doyle’s former possessions of psychical research material.

Kosuke Ikeshima

1983 born in Shizuoka prefecture. 2008 B.F.A in Sculpture,Tama Art University.
2010 M.F.A in Sculpture,Tokyo University of the Arts.2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 Solo exhibition at Naruyama Gallery, Tokyo. Ikeshima creates wooden sculptures of human figures and animals through classic carving techniques. By merging traditional Japanese wood carving techniques with western influenced interpretations, he creates sculptures that portray his perspective of myths and views on life and death. Being also interested in Miya-bori (shrine carving), in 2021 his Miya-bori was placed at Mt. Hanaki Shorin temple which is located in his hometown in Hamamatsu city. Selected group exhibitions 2010 “Taiwan Sanyi International Wood Sculpture Art Exchange Exhibition” Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum, Taiwan 2014. “Negative After Image” Akibatamabi21, Tokyo. 2016 “Sculpture-anachronism & flash” Chinretsukan gallery, The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of The Arts, Tokyo. 2017 “Megururi Art Shizuoka” Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka. 2021 “Art Fair Tokyo” Tokyo Kokusai Forum, Tokyo.