Taku Obata, known as a B-boy and sculptor, is holding a solo exhibition titled “Opposite Effects” at Akio Nagasawa Gallery Aoyama in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, until Saturday, July 11, 2020.

Taku Obata was born in Saitama Prefecture in 1980. As a B-boy (breakdancer) himself, he continues to express the physical movements and dynamism of dance through his sculptures. By exploring the relationship between the human body and clothing in wood carvings without pedestals, and the space generated from his B-boy sculptures, he creates works brimming with tension and power.

His solo exhibition “Opposite Effects” is currently on display at Akio Nagasawa Gallery Aoyama in Minami-Aoyama until Sunday, July 11, 2020. During the exhibition period, the displays will be changed in three phases, featuring drawings, canvas paintings, wood carvings, new silk screen prints, and hand-colored works.

Regarding his solo exhibition, Obata stated: “I am a B-boy sculptor. I create works centered on wooden B-boy sculptures, expressing body movement, space, and gravity. When I make wood carvings, I start by making many sketches. I sketch freely, asking myself what I am going to make. Once the image of the form is decided, I then sketch it repeatedly from various angles to solidify the form. I also determine all the positional relationships of the body in space at this stage, assuming it will be self-supporting when it becomes a wood carving. These are drawings that serve as blueprints. Based on these blueprints, I spend time carving the work from wood.

This solo exhibition focuses on drawings. My drawings include those made to create sculptures, as mentioned above, and derivative works that are drawn more freely. This exhibition primarily features the latter, drawings for two-dimensional works.

These drawings are the opposite of sculptures in many ways. The most significant difference is the fundamental dimensional difference: two-dimensional planes versus three-dimensional sculptures. The second difference lies in the process: while wood carving involves meticulous work over time towards a single, predetermined image, drawings are created spontaneously and intuitively without a fixed initial image, with the image emerging at the end. There are no set materials; I react to the shapes and positions of the paint on the surface and develop ideas as I draw.”

Taku Obata [B-BOY/Sculptor]
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1980
Formed UNITY SELECTIONS (HIPHOP TEAM) in 1999
Graduated from the Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006
Formed HIPHOP SENTAI BBOYGER in 2007
Completed the Master's Program in Sculpture, Graduate School of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts in 2008
Received the Grand Prize at “Tokyo Wonder Wall Public Competition 2008”

Taku Obata Solo Exhibition “Opposite Effects”
Venue | AKIO NAGASAWA Gallery
Address | Noir Bldg. 2F, 5-12-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Period | June 4 (Thu) – July 11 (Sat), 2020; Period 1: June 4 (Thu) – June 13 (Sat); Period 2: June 18 (Thu) – June 27 (Sat); Period 3: July 2 (Thu) – July 11 (Sat)
Opening Hours | 11:00–13:00, 14:00–19:00
Days Open | Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays (Closed Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and national holidays)