Glitch Folklore: Playful Sculptures by Kenichi Nakaya

Japanese artist and repairman Kenichi Nakaya describes himself as a folklore artist, and his sculptures sit right between rural craft, subculture and visual mischief. His work takes familiar Japanese folk-art forms, especially animal figures, and pushes them into stranger territory through distortion, slicing, glossy finishes and unexpected material combinations.

Kenichi’s recurring sheep and bears are especially memorable. The sheep appear stretched and melted, with their reflections turning into wavy support structures beneath them. Bears are wrapped in neon tennis-ball surfaces or shaped by the skin and texture of a peeled mandarin. The familiar forms remain, but they have been transformed into glitchy, playful, toy-like figures.

His practice also extends into fragmented portraits, stitched ceramic animals, pop-culture busts and hybrid creatures. Across the work, Kenichi connects the spirit of Japanese folk art with a sharper modern sensibility. For more of his surreal sculptures, visit his website and follow him on Instagram.

More art on the grid via Visualflood