Iwasaki Takahiro is one of Japan’s most respected contemporary artists. Using everyday materials, Iwasaki is known for creating series of works that convey a fine sense of handiwork and technique of figurative representation. Exploring the relationship among art, space and nature, his iconic series, Out of Disorder (2006) is a sculptural installation of beautiful architectural miniatures made out of readily available materials such as towels, toothbrushes and rolls of duct tape. This series cemented his standing in the international contemporary art scene. His extraordinary skill of transforming ordinary materials into mesmerizing works is admirable and always challenges the perception of viewers.

His works have been taken up by many international exhibitions including Yokohama Triennale (2011) and the 2013 Asian Art Biennale in Taiwan. More recently he was also the representative artist for the Japan Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale.

Celebrating the Japan Foundation’s exhibition, The Superlative Artistry of Japan at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery (until 19 April 2020) where Iwasaki’s work is exhibited, Iwasaki will explain his work to date and the creation process of his sometimes painstakingly elaborate works, discussing the meaning of tangibility in contemporary art as well as why the labour intensive creative process is still important to him.