Takeshi Harada 原田武
Swallowtail butterfly
鳳蝶
| Year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Medium | silver, brass, ,silver leaf, brass leaf, urushi(Japanese lacquer), wood |
| Size | H260 × W160 × D90 mm |
| Type | Unique |
About this work
Titled "Hōchō"—an archaic Japanese name for the swallowtail butterfly that carries the character for the mythical phoenix—this 2025 sculpture condenses the delicacy of a butterfly's wings and the weight of its body into a compact form measuring 260 × 160 × 90 mm. Silver and brass provide the structural framework, shaped into organic curves that evoke living anatomy. The wing surfaces are dressed with colored foil and brass foil, producing subtle shifts in hue as light moves across them. Urushi lacquer serves both as an adhesive for the foil and as a source of deep luster, while wood introduces warmth against the cool brilliance of metal. The work bridges multiple craft disciplines—metalsmithing, foil application, lacquer art, and woodworking—allowing each material's inherent texture to speak within a single, unified form.
More by Takeshi Harada
