Toyota Youji

Join us at SOFA New York (May 29, 2008) to see works from this artist.

Youji Toyota was born in Toyama Prefecture of Japan, graduated from the Tokyo Formative University, and now lives in Minamibousou in the Chiba prefecture.

Over time, he has carved (literally) a reputation for his maverick wooden pieces with bold black strokes. The idea for the unique pieces exhibited here, with black carved lines, came about when Toyota was taking a walk through the hilly countryside on the outskirts of Tokyo where he resides. During one of his walks, he noticed square-shaped blocks of concrete on the slope of the hills. These are meant to keep any loose earth from falling down, and are a common sight in Japan where the land is not flat.

Toyota states:

It was as though I was able to immediately grasp the accumulation of the thoughts of mankind in a second. I was able to see the accumulation of wisdom, and the actions people have taken to overcome the power of mother nature. So, to me, this sight was as though the accumulation of mankind’s reasoning and feelings over the years was pushing out with great force from left to right, and top to bottom from the concrete blocks. I was inspired by this sight to create my new series.

Exhibitions

1996 Fertile & cultivation (bronze) at Gallery K etc
1997 To stand to resist to exist (textile/bronze) at Gallery K
1999 Inspiration & accumulation & destiny (bronze)
1999 Motherhood . Fatherhood (bronze) at Space Kareido
1999 Motherhood . Fatherhood (textile) at Moegi Gallery
2000 Got Good design Prize at Yasuda Fire Insurance Museum Foundation Grant Exhibition
2000 Unknown power (Wood) at Galeria Aoneko
2001 Freedom & accumulation (Wood) at Gallery Art Point
2003 To stand to resist to exist (Wood) at Gallery Art Point
2004 Arch (Wood) at Gallery Art Point
2006 Motherhood . Fatherhood (Textile, bronze) at Gallery Shi-re
2006 Accumulation of knowledge at Gallery Art Point
2007 Accumulation of thoughts (Wood) at Gallery Art Point