Angel SAKURA, Artist of Ball-jointed doll
Belonged to ‘DOLL SPACE PYGMARION’ since 2002 and studied under Ryo Yosida, the first artist of Ball-jointed doll in Japan,
His works gave a strong inspiration to ‘Innocence’, the second movie of Ghost in the shell.
2013 Won the new face award of ‘Salon Blanc’, exhibition of Franco-Japonais supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy
Since won this prize, winning an award every year and won the Mayor’s prize twice in the same exhibition.
Member of ‘Salon Blanc’.
2017 Won the award of Prince HIGASHIKUNINOMIYA
Awards
2013 Won the new face award of ‘Salon Blanc’, exhibition of Franco-Japonais supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy
Since won this prize, winning an award every year and won the Mayor’s prize twice in the same exhibition.
Member of ‘Salon Blanc’.
2017 Awarded Memorial award of Prince HIGASHIKUNINOMIYA
2017 Awarded Medal with Prince HIGASHIKUNINOMIYA
Theme
To Inherit and develop Japanese culture and to look for Japanese beauty.
Japanese mythology, Kabuki, and holy place and images inspired and realized by them
Our weakness, strength, tenderness, sadness and anxiety, they teach us the ambiguity of the human being. Also, it gives us the feelings of the fear that is hidden in beauty as well as hope, dreams and healing.
Solo Exhibitions ‘the Most beautiful thing’
2012 April OMOTE-SANDO HILLS GALLERY KOWA
2015 April GINZA G1 GALLERY
2015 April AOYAMA DERORI
2016 July Exhibition ‘Sizuoka Kakegawa GAW
and displayed many other exhibition.
What is ‘Ball-jointed doll’
During the World War ll, a German doll artist, Hans Bellmer, who was also photographer and painter, wanted to express deeply love in human body by dolls and he invented a mechanism ‘Ball-jointed’ which has a ball in every joint of its body and has a mechanism that doesn’t bent wrong way.
In Japan, ‘Kyutai Kansetsu Ningyo’, which is Japanese name of Ball-jointed doll, has developed in its own way in Japan.
Material and creation time
Angel SAKURA uses new materials of stone clay for making doll’s body. This material has a feature that will be as hard as the pottery by drying.
She doesn’t use a model or mold, and her dolls are one-of-a-kind.
Heir: human’s, silk or feather.
Eyes: blown glass or crystal, all of eyes are original made by Angel SAKURA.
Clothes: Antique Kimono or texture of Kimono, using only silk.
Accessory: crystal, natural stone, unused ancient SWAROVSKI which is made over 100 years ago.
It takes 3 month for creating a small doll which is 30cm high. For creating 1m doll, it takes from six month to a year.
With Master Ryo Yoshida
