“Night by Night.” All images © Ikuo Inada, shared with permission, courtesy of Medel Gallery Shu
Embodying the bleary-eyed feeling of an early morning, insomnia, or a long, lazy day at home, artist ’s meditative sculptures personify sleepiness. The Japanese artist’s meticulously carved, realistic figures clutch feather pillows, envelop themselves in comforters, or stand drowsily in soft hoodies. His ambiguous subjects, often half-hidden in a sweatshirt or a blanket, are usually between one and three feet tall and carved from a single block of wood, allowing the natural grain to complement the delicately chiseled hem of a shirt, a drawstring, and slender fingers and toes. Influenced by the expressive wrinkles and folds of Renaissance carvings, the sculptures crystalize relatable, emotional moments of solitude.
Inada’s work will be exhibited at Art Taipei with from October 21 to 24. You can also find more on his and .
“Leave Me Alone”
Left: “A Cramped Day.” Right: “I’m Still Here”
“Such A Night”
Left: “Everything at Night.” Right: “Night Falls IV”
Detail of “Leave Me Alone”
“Night Head,” resin and acrylic
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