Takaoki TAJIMA

Takaoki TAJIMA was born into a lineage of Buddhist sculptors and is himself a fifth-generation artist. Surrounded from an early age by master figurative sculptors—his grandfather, Kamehiko TAJIMA (a disciple of Fumio Asakura), and his father, Yoshiro TAJIMA—he grew up in his father's studio, where he became intimately familiar with wood, tools, and the very atmosphere of sculpture. The scent of timber, the weight of a chisel, the quiet hum of creation—all these elements nurtured the beginnings of his artistic passion.

The TAJIMA family has long created statues that serve as objects of faith. Through these works, they have fulfilled a role akin to that of priests in other cultures—mediating between the spiritual and the earthly. Their practice goes beyond shaping “form”; it is a sacred act, standing between people and prayer. This ethos has been passed down silently through generations and is deeply embedded in TAJIMA’s work.

Among his tools are a chisel specially commissioned by his grandfather from master blacksmith Korehide Chiyotsuru, and carving instruments made by Rokunosuke TAKIGUCHI, the first Konobu. These tools—passed from grandfather to father to son—are not merely instruments, but living heirlooms, carriers of the "memory of hands." When Tajima holds them, the gaze of the past and the form of the present quietly resonate.

His sculptural practice breathes new life into these inherited techniques and sensibilities. Yet, his expression extends far beyond tradition. TAJIMA works across diverse media—sculpture, painting, drawing, lithography, and ceramics—fluidly navigating the boundaries between figuration and abstraction, humor and melancholy, stillness and violence.

His distinctive visual language—most notably seen in his two-head-high figures and the Dead Ball series—is both whimsical and poignant, stirring the imagination and emotions of the viewer. His rare ability to transform even pessimistic themes into light-hearted, nuanced works is especially resonant in today’s world.

In addition to his visual work, Tajima is a thoughtful writer and editor. With his wide-ranging knowledge, keen observational eye, and refined sense of language, he engages in essays, book design, and critical contributions—quietly weaving between word and form. This intellectual depth adds further dimension to his artistic world.

Takaoki TAJIMA’s talent cannot be confined to a single form. His artistry spreads quietly, like light—illuminating the space between inheritance and innovation, intellect and intuition.

For him, the inheritance of craft is not a burden, but a source of pride and joy.

An artist of rare sensibility and intelligence, TAJIMA embodies both masterful craftsmanship and a free spirit.