Tomohiro Inaba is a renowned Japanese sculptor who creates intricate iron sculptures of animals that look like they came from a world of fantasy.
Inaba’s pieces feature wild animals like deer, wolves, and foxes captured in motion as they seemingly disappear in thin air. The artist achieved this effect by sculpting one half of the animal’s body in solid iron while the other half consists of intertwined iron wires.
According to Inaba, these iron wires, or formless “blanks” as he calls them, aim to spark the imagination of the viewer and “make room for stories to develop.”
“By merging sculptural form with the viewer’s imagination, sculptural expression reaches new heights no longer bound by physical limitations. In sharing memories that the structural forms evoked with other viewers, we can recognize and cherish the richness in diverse ways of thinking,” Inaba explains in an artist’s statement shared on his website.
Inaba’s iron sculptures attracted the attention of art enthusiasts from all over the world, bringing the artist international acclaim and recognition. His pieces have been exhibited across his native Japan and other countries, including France and Italy. You can check out more of them by visiting Inaba’s website and social media or by scrolling below.
