Izumi Keiji was born in Kanagawa prefecture in 1973. He is a young artist who studied sculpture at Tokyo Zokei University and expresses a unique world through wood sculpture pieces. His wood sculptures were first introduced last November through a group exhibition held at ARATANIURANO and at an art fair in Miami, where the pieces were favorably received. The upcoming exhibition will be Izumi’s first solo exhibition at ARATANIURANO. The figures created by Izumi are all fantastical, yet somehow familiar, and humorous: a man who is a union of an afro and a Martian; a man who is clenching a fist that seems crowned with an erupting volcano; a girl with flyaway balloon hair; an elderly person with a beard connected to smoke; and so on. They all bring forth laughter with their sense of humor and leap in logic. At the same time, there is a sense of familiarity and reality that tends to remind the viewer of someone they know. The creation process is quite unique also. First, a semi-nude figure clad in underwear is carved. Then, clothing is added in putty. Lastly, color is added mainly through the use of colored pencils. It is amazing to see Izumi’s skillful attention to particulars that allows him to creatively express motifs without a predetermined shape: the clothing’s wrinkles, textures, waves, clouds, and smoke. The balance between such attention to detail and his fantastical and humorous motifs brings forth a tension that makes for unique sculptural pieces that achieve a high level of completion. As expressed by Izumi, “I want to incorporate various elements in my pieces, just as my own personality is structured from various elements,” all the pieces are a union of waves, smoke, clouds, rainbows and other such natural elements, and fantastical creatures with the human body. Through these works, it seems that the individuality and uncontrollable feelings and sensations that characterize us are embodied as a part of the world that transcends humanity. Also, these pieces can be viewed as the reflection of modern man who has become sublimated by the fantastic. Izumi’s imagination is sure to expand the viewer’s own. We look forward to this exhibition with anticipation. * The text provided by ARATANIURANO.