Takeshi Harada interview 2021

We spoke with Takeshi Harada, whose solo exhibition will open on July 23rd!

■On the theme of rediscovery in everyday life

I always use beautiful things as my motifs, but for this exhibition, I used ravens, mosquito coils, and dirty feathers on the side of the road, which are not beautiful things in themselves. This is because I wanted to focus on not only the things that are beautiful in everyday life, but also the many other things, and I wanted to focus on each and every one of them. Things that cannot be called beautiful can be surprisingly interesting or cool when viewed from a different perspective. I hope that my work will help you rediscover these things.

 
■Cunning and Ecstasy.”
原田武H230×W350×D280狡猾と恍惚
Cunning and Ecstasy.”
H230×W350×D280

Cunning and Ecstasy” is based on the motif of crows that often live around my house, and to be honest, they are a depressing presence, always cawing loudly. However, if you observe them carefully, you can see that they have a cool and dignified side to them. I wanted to express these various aspects in this work. In terms of technique, I made a crow’s purplish black color by making good use of the black color produced by the chemical reaction between sulfur and copper by potassium sulfide. In addition, I tried to express feathers by hammering them one by one with a hammer and chisel so that the flow of hairs and the sense of touch would be conveyed.

■production process

(1) Use different thicknesses of 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm for each location of the copper sheet used in this production.

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(2) Anneal the copper plate with a burner. When annealed, the copper plate becomes soft enough to bend easily by hand.

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(3) Annealing with dilute sulfuric acid to get black oxide film.

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(4) Cut the copper sheet with scissors and make the parts using a hammer or a trowel.
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あて金
earmark

(5) After the parts are made, weld them by TIG welding in order.
56
7

(6) When the head is done a little, melt pine tar inside to make a fine shape.

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(7) The edge of the eyes is made of silver and another part is made of silver and brazed.
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(8) The tail feathers are made from separate parts.
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⑨ Attach the tail feathers in the same way as ⑤..
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When the whole shape is made, melt pine needles inside and make details little by little using a hammer and chisel.
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(10) Fine feathers are also expressed by chisel
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(11) Roast over an 11-alarm fire to release the pine tar.
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⑫Detail completion
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⑬ Wings and feet on
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⑭ Colour up black by dipping it in a liquid containing dissolved potassium sulfide.
17完成
硫化カリウム液体
*Liquid with dissolved potassium sulfide

■The charm of Takeshi Harada, different from other metal artists

I am not aiming at faithful reproduction of animals and plants, nor am I trying to show the airiness of various spaces and techniques, but rather I want to express something invisible that each of them is clad in. In my work, “something invisible” is a sense of atmosphere, and I believe that one of the ways to express it is through the balance of the whole and the beauty of the margins.

 

Thank you, Dr. Harada! The solo exhibition will be held from Friday, July 23 to Sunday, August 1. Please take this opportunity to visit the exhibition.

Click here to read the previous interview.

◇2017 Interview.
Interview with Takeshi Harada, Author : Gallery Seek Official Blog (livedoor.jp)
◇2020 Interview.

Takeshi Harada Interview 2020 : Gallery Seek Official Blog (livedoor.jp)

Takeshi Harada Metal Sculpture Exhibition “Nostalgia
23 July (Gold) to 1 August (Sun)
venue:Gallery Seek
Writers:Gallery relocation notice
Artist Visits: Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24, 13:00 – 17:00 each day

Takeshi Harada is a metal sculptor. His usual motifs are insects, plants, and other things that are beautiful in themselves, but for this solo exhibition, he uses ravens, mosquito coils, and dirty feathers found on the side of the road, which are not beautiful in nature, as motifs. Things that at first glance may not seem beautiful, but when you look at them from a different perspective, they have a surprisingly interesting or cool aspect to them. I hope you can feel such “rediscovery” through this exhibition. This feeling may be similar to the pure wonder and curiosity we felt for familiar animals and plants when we were children. The works remind us of the interest in the familiar that we unconsciously lost as we grew older, and at the same time, they evoke a sense of nostalgia. Rather than focusing on faithfully reproducing the motifs, the artist places importance on expressing the invisible atmosphere that surrounds each piece, and this is why her works are able to resonate with the viewer. The sublimation of his childhood memories and the skill of using metal materials are exquisitely combined to create works that have a unique and unbalanced appeal.

関連アーティスト

Takeshi Harada

Takeshi Harada

I use metal forging and engraving techniques. I cut out animals and ordinary scenes from everyday life and make them into works of art. I hope you can feel the fascination of metal materials.