Edinburgh Art Festival

Atsuo Okamoto, Forest 1 and 2, 2008

Faraway Mountain
First UK solo exhibition by Japanese stone sculptor Atsuo Okomoto. Best known for his work in granite, Okamoto uses a specific technique called ‘wari modoshi’ or splitting and returning, to create his conceptual works. Faraway Mountain on display in the gallery space has been crafted using this ancient art. Here, each of the twelve pieces has been carefully sculpted from the same block of stone and is able to be pushed together or ‘returned’ to reform the original piece.

Okamoto’s other work, in Gayfield Square Gardens (see map 8A), has been made using a drilling technique. This leaves the final artwork vulnerable to the natural light and the stone figures transparent, recalling how light shines through the branches of forest trees.

Okamoto’s ability to divide large heavy blocks of stone using a traditional ‘mame ya’ or bean wedge, has resulted in his work being recognised internationally. In 2001 Okamoto began the World Turtle Project which involved sending nearly 50 pieces from the same stone to different countries around the world. Two years later most of the pieces were returned and the result is a large piece of sculpture made from individual pieces of stone which have aged and discoloured differently. A smaller version of this work is also on show in the gallery.

Okamoto’s work has been shown in museums and galleries in Europe and Japan.