Japanese artist Kumi Yamashita has just constructed a new cherry wood sculpture that shows the shadow of a woman sitting in a chair. Taking a few months to complete, one month spent working on sketches to achieve the right composition and scale, and the the other month spent carving, sanding and adding finishing touches like painting and building the light fixture, the piece is an astounding achievement. Straight on, and without any light, you’d think you’re just looking at plain pieces of wood. From the side view, however, you’ll notice the intricate carvings in the chair’s legs and back. When the light hits the sculpture just right, a ghostly figure emerges from the shadows.
Chair is part of Yamashita’s Light & Shadows series where she creates shadow objects using a single light source. (See previously.) This piece was not made for anyone specifically but has already been purchased by a buyer in Dubai.
Chair (side)
Photos Kumi Yamashita, 2015