Naoki Gujo

Naoki Gujo was born in 1982 and is currently 43 years old. He studied lacquer art at Kyoto City University of Arts. However, it was during this time that he encountered wood, rather than focusing on decorative lacquer techniques, and discovered its unique charm. This encounter marked the beginning of his career as a wood sculptor. Initially, he was influenced by Atsuhiko Misawa, and his works reflected a similar atmosphere. His early works featured creatures expressed as unique characters that he conceived. Over time, his career evolved, and he established his own distinctive style of expression. His current theme is "sleep." All living beings experience a period of time known as sleep, and Gujo is currently focusing on energetically expressing the world dreamed by living creatures, including humans. The vague characters that he initially depicted have disappeared, and his style has since transformed into one that embodies creatures existing only within the realms of his imagination and dreams, as well as the worlds these creatures dream of.

Another distinctive feature of his work is the use of a wide variety of woods. While most woodcarvers typically work with a limited selection of wood types, Gujo utilizes an extensive range of wood, primarily sourced from Japan, in his creations. His works are characterized by minimal coloring, with a focus on preserving and emphasizing the natural color of the wood. This approach reflects his profound love for wood itself, along with his ongoing curiosity and research into the material.

Moreover, Gujo places significant importance on a form of image creation that he describes as "talking with trees" and developing imagery from these conversations. This process involves engaging in a dialogue with nature itself and can be interpreted as creatures emerging from the natural world, created in his own image.