Takahiro Iwasaki

With Upside-Down Forest , the Hiroshima-born artist Takahiro Iwasaki (1975) will be showing a selection of works which addresses the nature of Venice as a city built upon wooden stakes as well as the design of the iconic Itsukushima Shrine. Iwasaki often uses everyday objects that are found around us as materials for his works. These include items that are regarded as garbage, such as dust cloth and hair. By overlaying another image onto these to create a figurative representation, he gives meaning to things that are seemingly chaotic. For example, he makes a stack of dust cloths look like the mountains of nature, and books appear like buildings. Experiencing a change in the way we perceive things brings enjoyment to the viewer. Iwasaki's work is also characterized by his fine handiwork. He creates cranes and steel towers from the threads pulled out from dust cloths or the bookmark strings attached to books. The delicacy of his work surprises the onlooker, and attracts them to draw closer to examine the piece. Iwasaki's works, characterized by his use of everyday objects, the technique of creating a figurative representation, and fine handiwork, could also be described as "Japanese."