Yoshimasa Tsuchiya "Shinju / Reiju / Kaiju"
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Yoshimasa Tsuchiya
Megumi Ogita Gallery presents Shinju / Reiju / Kaiju, a solo exhibition by Yoshimasa Tsuchiya, known for symbolic sculptures of creatures that evoke imagined worlds and spiritual presences.
Born in Kanagawa in 1977, Tsuchiya studied sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts and completed a doctoral program in conservation and restoration in 2007. Drawing on experience with historical sculptures, Tsuchiya combines traditional techniques with innovative expression. The work has been exhibited internationally, with growing recognition in Japan and abroad.
Tsuchiya’s sculptures feature delicate coloring that reveals subtle tones beneath the wood’s surface, evoking the warmth of living beings. Techniques associated with Buddhist sculpture, including eyes set from within the head, lend the creatures a mysterious presence. Crystal eyes convey stillness, while glass eyes made by glass artist Fukuo Tanaka create an intense, all-seeing gaze.
Inspired by mythology, religion, animals and plants, Tsuchiya transforms the sensations and spiritual qualities found in these sources into imagined creatures. Balancing universality with originality, the work has been described as “the latest form of the classical.” Moving freely between the real and the otherworldly, the sculptures evoke the collective unconscious and invite dialogue.
The exhibition features seven wooden sculptures of fictional creatures reflecting the uncertainties of our time, including Hakutaku, a new work depicting a mythical beast believed to offer guidance to humanity, and Kirin, presented earlier this year at Sapporo Artpark. Tsuchiya explains that Hakutaku was inspired by the unease people feel toward AI: something that speaks like a human but is not human.
Born in Kanagawa in 1977, Tsuchiya studied sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts and completed a doctoral program in conservation and restoration in 2007. Drawing on experience with historical sculptures, Tsuchiya combines traditional techniques with innovative expression. The work has been exhibited internationally, with growing recognition in Japan and abroad.
Tsuchiya’s sculptures feature delicate coloring that reveals subtle tones beneath the wood’s surface, evoking the warmth of living beings. Techniques associated with Buddhist sculpture, including eyes set from within the head, lend the creatures a mysterious presence. Crystal eyes convey stillness, while glass eyes made by glass artist Fukuo Tanaka create an intense, all-seeing gaze.
Inspired by mythology, religion, animals and plants, Tsuchiya transforms the sensations and spiritual qualities found in these sources into imagined creatures. Balancing universality with originality, the work has been described as “the latest form of the classical.” Moving freely between the real and the otherworldly, the sculptures evoke the collective unconscious and invite dialogue.
The exhibition features seven wooden sculptures of fictional creatures reflecting the uncertainties of our time, including Hakutaku, a new work depicting a mythical beast believed to offer guidance to humanity, and Kirin, presented earlier this year at Sapporo Artpark. Tsuchiya explains that Hakutaku was inspired by the unease people feel toward AI: something that speaks like a human but is not human.
Schedule | Oct 30 (Fri) 2026-Nov 21 (Sat) 2026 Opening Hours Information
Opening Reception Oct 30 (Fri) 2026 18:00 - 20:00 | ||||
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Venue | Megumi Ogita Gallery http://www.megumiogita.com  | ||||
| Address | B1, 8-14-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 | ||||
| Access | 5 minute walk from exit 5 at Shiodome Station on the Yurikamome or Toei Oedo line, 5 minute walk from exit A3 at Tsukijishijo Station on the Toei Oedo line, 10 minute walk from the Shiodome exit of JR Shimbashi Station. | ||||
| Phone | 03-3248-3405 |
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