“Art is about doing things you usually wouldn’t do. The impossible. The useless.”
Grotesquely cute sculptures embrace childhood fantasies.
Brightly coloured gloss sculptures by Takahiro Komuro balance fantasy with horror. Dragons, children and chimeric creatures sport double heads, many limbs and elongated necks. They range in size from small vinyl toys to large, life-sized creations. As the artist describes, they are “cute but shocking,” inspiring “a sense of discomfort.” Komuro begins his process with a digital render. Then he translates them into sculptures made of materials including bronze, wood and fibreglass. The artist is part of a generation blurring the boundaries between fine art and design. Alongside the likes of Kaws...
Brightly coloured gloss sculptures by Takahiro Komuro balance fantasy with horror. Dragons, children and chimeric creatures sport double heads, many limbs and elongated necks. They range in size from small vinyl toys to large, life-sized creations. As the artist describes, they are “cute but shocking,” inspiring “a sense of discomfort.” Komuro begins his process with a digital render. Then he translates them into sculptures made of materials including bronze, wood and fibreglass. The artist is part of a generation blurring the boundaries between fine art and design. Alongside the likes of Kaws and Michael Lau.
Komuro is inspired by his youth. Growing up in the 1990s, a wide range of cultural influences formed the basis of his practice. “Everything I experienced was astonishing and I wanted to crystalise that.” Sci-fi films like Jurassic Park, Star Wars and E.T. captivated him. Along with Barbie dolls and punk rock cover art. American cartoons were also a staple. Admired by the artist for their bold colours and gross storylines. The series Eternal Youth (2021) encapsulates this essence. Kids with faces in bandages represent hanging out with friends and getting hurt. As such, Komuro captures the joy and peril of free spirited play – using art to embrace his inner kid.
Bio
Takahiro Komuro (he/him) was born 1985 in Tokyo, Japan, where he continues to live and work.
Early years
Komuro grew up in the Ōta-ku area of Tokyo, near many metalworking factories. Inspired by the artisans he saw around him, he would make clay figures and remake his own toys. This formed the foundation of his practice today.
Sculpture
As a student at the Tokyo University of Arts, Komuro concentrated in sculpture. He was not interested in drawing or painting. Instead felt most connected to the physical actions of touching and creating in 3D.
