Hirofumi Fujiwara

Neutopian (sunset)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2022
Kunststoff, Unikat
95 x 40 x 45 cm

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Neutopian (starry night)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2023
Kunststoff, Unikat
85 x 30 x 38 cm

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Neutopian (silver shoes)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2023
Kunststoff, Unikat
61 x 35 x 40 cm

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Neutopian (into a dream)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2023
Kunststoff, Unikat
70 x 20 x 12 cm

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Neutopian (gold)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2023
Kunststoff, Unikat
41 x 25 x 18 cm

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Neutopian(blue line)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2023
Kunststoff, Unikat
17 x 50 x 23 cm

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Neutopian (metamorphose)
Hirofumi Fujiwara
2023
Kunststoff, Unikat
60 x 14 x 12 cm
Unikat

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Biography

1984 Geb. in Hiroshima, Japan
2003-2009 Studium an der Okayama Prefectural University
2010-2016 Kunstakademie Karlsruhe, Klasse Prof. Stephan Balkenhol
2016-2017 Meisterschüler bei Prof. Stephan Balkenhol

Solo Exhibitions
2022 EDGE OF FANTASIES galerie burster, Berlin
PHANTOM werkstatt weinheim, Weinheim
2021 DREAMS OF THE FUTURE Majolika Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe
2020 YOU’RE MY UTOPIA Kunstverein der Stadt Glauchau, Glauchau
2019 galerie burster, Karlsruhe
2017 UTOPIA Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg
2015 WATCHLIST II / 2015 Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg
2014 BREAKING THE SPELL Galerie Helga Maria Bischoff, Berlin
2012 MAKING UP THE PAST Galerie Helga Maria Bischoff, Berlin
2011 Hirofumi Fujiwara SOLO EXHIBISION Cifaca Gallery, Japan

Preise
Aword of Excellence of OPU
PHON IX Kunstpreis fur Nachwuchskunstler Publikum Preis
Kunstpreis Evangelische Landeskirche (nominiert)

Group Exhibitions
2023
Metamorphosen, Galerie Filser & Gräf, Munich

2022
SCULTURA 22, Gesellschaft der Jungen Kunst, Baden Baden
REAL UNREAL, vcrb gallery, Antwerp Belgien
ELBHÄNGUNG, Villa an der Elbchaussee, Hamburg
ART KARLSRUHE, Messplatz, Karlsruhe

2021
TATORT III, Kraftwerk Bille, Hamburg
SCULPTOR, Beukenhof Phoenix Ggalerie, Belgien
ARTME, Kunsthalle Memmingen, Memmingen

2020
SCULPTOUR, Beukenhof Phoenix Galerie, Belgien
SPECIAL, Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg
ART KARLSRUHE, Messeplatz, Karlsruhe

2019
Gefärbte Wahrnehmung – Mit Inge Jakobsen, Galerie Filser & Gräf, München

2018
DIALOG DES STOFFLICHEN Museum Lobdengau, Ladenburg
SCULPTOUR “REFLECTION” Beukenhof Phoenix Galerie, Bergien
ART KARLSRUHE Messeplatz, KarlsruheNACHTS ALLEIN IM ATELIER IX Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg
Utopian / Playgraund galerie burster, Berlin

2017
BLACK / WHITE & FRIENDS galerie burster, Berlin
NACHTS ALLEIN IM ATELIER IV Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg POSITIONS am Postbahnhof, Berlin
KUNST ZURICH Kunst 17, Zurich
ART KARLSRUHE Messeplatz, Karlsruhe

2016
TOP 16 Mannheimer Kunstverein, Mannheim ART KARLSRUHE Messeplatz, Karlsruhe
NACHTS ALLEIN IM ATELIER III Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg HAMBURG SECTION Affordable Artfair, Hamburg
KUNST ZURICH Kunst 16, Zurich
TRANSNATIONAL Andreas Hemlings Atelier, Hordt
CONTEMPORARY ART BADEN-BADEN Skulpturen Salon, Baden-Baden POSITIONS am Postbahnhof, Berlin
EINE ZUKUNFT FOR DIE TRADITION Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe
FORIS Galerie Burster, Berlin
VENI, VIDI Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg

2015
NACHTS ALLEIN IM ATELIER Evelyn Drewes Galerie, Hamburg
ART KARLSRUHE Messeplatz, Karlsruhe LOKALE ANALOGE ciao, Karlsruhe
HAMBURG SECTION Affordable Artfair, Hamburg

2014
6 KÜNSTLER-6 KUNSTAKADEMIEN Sparkasse Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe DAS OBERE DES KORPERS Galerie Frank Schlag&Cie., Essen
SCHONE NEUE WELT Poly Produzentengalerie e.V., Karlsruhe
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR Hamburg
KÖLN – KYOTO Galerie Skala, Köln
BILDHAUEREI Kunstkontor, Münster
ART KARLSRUHE Messeplatz, Karlsruhe

2013
SOL LEWITT LOVES PANCAKES Projektraum ZIP, Basel Schweiz Hirofumi Fujiwara / MICHAEL KIPPHAHN Galerie Gerken, Berlin
ART KARLSRUHE Messeplatz, Karlsruhe

2012
DISTANCES Tenjin-MAM, Okayama, Japan
CREATORS LOUNGE D-mall, Kojima, Okayama, Japan
KUNST PREIS BILDER? BILDER! Evangelische Landeskirche, Stuttgart 2011
FOKUS Kunstverein Radolfzell, Radolfzell
CREATORS LOUNGE Kurashiki, Japan

Description

Hirofumi Fujiwara is inspired by the diversity of people he encounters in his everyday life. When observing these multifaceted personalities, however, the artist does not so much aim for a detailed reproduction. Rather, he is looking for details of the many different people he collects for his artistic projects. The collection of different character traits and personality traits, which characterize each person individually and can be perceived in many different ways from different perspectives, then serve him as a catalog of motifs for his works. He uses these observations to create equally individual figures. Each of the naturalistic sculptures made of clay and plastic differs from the others in small details and is therefore unique in two respects, and Hirofumi Fujiwara describes the process of creating his figures as a chain of coincidental moments.

Since all he has left are his memories of what he has seen, the artist lets himself be guided by the elaborate working process. At the beginning of each sculpture, there is only a rough idea. It is completely unclear where the creative journey will take him. Each work step, each decision for or against the development of a figurative element influences the subsequent steps; the conceptual guideline and a particular concern of the artist is the possibility of a multitude of interpretative approaches. Just as with people themselves, the figures should also remain inscrutable to a certain extent. The complexity and mystery of each person is what motivates Hirofumi Fujiwara to create his figurative works. This aspect also relates to the viewer: as different as the recipients are, they will recognize just as many different figures, construct diverse stories and make countless interpretations. Hirofumi Fujiwara thematizes the coexistence and opposition of inner and outer qualities. Even if the interior of a rigid, lifeless figure appears unfathomable, it is all the more exciting to develop the exterior of the sculptures into a story, completely independent of and detached from the artist’s ideas.

Hirofumi Fujiwara’s latest project deals with the theme of “Utopia”. These sculptures are not so much models of people in the future, but rather figures of a parallel world. In contrast to his earlier works, the sculptures in this series are linked by the element of concealment. This aspect of mystery is realized through the use of transparent walls, which are constructed around the figures like a protective barrier. Only on closer inspection can the essence of each individual figure behind Plexiglas, drops of silicone or straws be guessed. (Elisa Hornacek – art historian)