Turning the Japanese culture of capsule toys into art.
Kumagai studied sculpture at an art high school and university and specializes in modeling. Alongside his work as an artist, he is also involved in spatial design direction, and when creating, he imagines the entire space and creates the piece as a part of that space. Although he was active as a part of a group, he decided to return to the Kansai region, which marked a turning point for him. Since it proved difficult to secure an atelier without any connections, he found a way to take advantage of 3DCG, which does not require a large space and began making use of 3D printers, which are highly compatible with 3D graphics. This led to the birth of his signature work, the Play Sculpture (Gacha Gacha machine) series. It all started with an invitation to manage a store that produced and sold merchandise for artists. Rather than simply imitating merchandise found in a shop, he thought it would be interesting to create pieces that also replicated the function. Thus, capsule toy machines became his inspiration. One of the important themes in the production was his desire to complete everything, the exterior, the functionality, and even the inside, using a 3D printer.
Bringing smiles to visitors from all over the world with interactive art.
He felt that his Play Sculpture series would be perfect for W Osaka, which welcomes a large number of foreign guests. Capsule toys are a culture unique to Japan, and the figures that come out of them have also a culture of their own and are well-loved all over the world. He knew they would be popular with foreign visitors. In addition, the image for the exhibition became clearer as he actually visited the luxurious yet playful interior of W Osaka and absorbed the atmosphere. Because this work is an interactive sculpture that generates communication, he thought that by exhibiting it in a location like a hotel, where many people stay, conversations would be generated through the work, various chemical reactions would occur, and the exhibition space itself would develop into a more attractive place. Kumagai expands on his imagination, saying, "I'd like to even try using colors to deliberately create halation." He says he wants people to not only look at his sculptures but also touch and play with them and enjoy the simple excitement of "sculptures coming out of sculptures."
A special art experience at W Osaka.
The exhibition will be held at W Osaka, a hotel that eschews traditional luxury and instead embraces innovation and dynamism. Featuring a unique design created under the supervision of Tadao Ando, its chic exterior is filled with various stories and colorful, interesting features. As the only “W brand” hotel in Japan, W Osaka strives to provide luxurious services to meet every customer need based on the concept “Whenever/Whatever.”® The hotel also actively collaborates with artists, participating in Osaka Art&Design this year as well as last year. “We are always seeking collaboration with artists to further enhance the unique and art-filled appeal of our establishment,” says Peter Lucas, the General Manager. He hopes that visitors will experience the charms of Osaka through this installation in this special year of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
