The Tokyo Station Gallery is currently presenting an exhibition of works by Takeki Fujito, a sculptor who has been carving bears in Akan, Hokkaido, for many years, following the footsteps of the Ainu people.

Fujito held a chisel and carving knife as if guided by wood, creating life-filled wooden sculptures until his death in 2018 at the age of 84.  Fascinated by his work, photographer Yayoi Arimoto and writer Toshiya Muraoka, who also writes for Subsequence magazine, visited Fujito for a year and produced a book called “Bear Carver” (Shogakukan).
Accompanied by photographs of several of his works, the sculptor’s words about his life and his thoughts on creation are quite memorable.

Date: July 17 (Sat) – September 26 (Sun), 2021
Location: Tokyo Station Gallery
http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/index.asp

Photography: Yayoi Arimoto