“The glass baby, filled with light, sits before us like a god.
It is the Existence as a prayer for the future.”
「仏さまのような、光を内包した赤ちゃん。
それは、未来に向けた、祈りとしての存在。」
Matsufuji has long been interested in the materiality of glass. In the early stages of his career, he produced works which investigated the concept of death. However, after his father's sudden death, Matsufuji began to create babies which symbolize the beginning of life and represent an entity which can become anything in the future. He also makes the babies into Buddha statues or Kabuki actors, addressing additional aspects of human life through his works.
Works in the Baby Series are produced using the lost-wax kiln casting technique. First, he sculpts the babies in wax and then encases their forms with refractory plaster to create molds. After melting out the wax, he fills the molds with glass which is then melted in an electric kiln at a temperature of 860°C. The glass is then cooled slowly over several days. After divesting the glass, he carefully hand-finishes the surface of each work, creating a mysterious sense of vitality. Finally, when he inserts the babies'eyes, its soul is born. The glass babies, look like a grown-up, are somewhere humorous and also lovely.
Seated Baby with Mysterious Flower
不思議花赤子坐像
Cast glass, inlaid glass eyes, boxwood and wood stand
ガラス造、玉眼、黄楊木、台座
47×34×34 cm (HxWxD)
2019
Seated Baby with Skull
小鬼赤子坐像
Cast glass, inlaid glass eyes, camphor tree and wood stand
ガラス造、玉眼、クスノキ（髑髏）、台座
42×34×40 cm (HxWxD)
2018
Seated Baby with Butterfly
天心赤子坐像
Cast glass, inlaid glass eyes, silver and wood stand
ガラス造、玉眼、銀（蝶）、台座
39×61×36 cm (HxWxD)
2018
"Kohei Kishimoto and Koichi Matsufuji Exhibition"
Exhibited view at Seto Ceramics and Glass Art Center
Gallery３・４・５
March 26 - June 19, 2016
企画展｢岸本耕平 松藤孝一｣
瀬戸市新世紀工芸館 展示棟ギャラリー３・４・５
平成２８年３月２６日(土) ～ ６月１９日(日)
瀬戸市新世紀工芸館での展示風景
"Standing Baby of Sei-cho"
Cast glass, inlaid glass eyes and wood
121 x 85 x 46 cm (HxWxD)
2009
Photo by Tomotsuna Sachi
Exhibited view at Gallery Cellar
《星眺赤子立像》
ガラス造、玉眼、ケヤキ
１２１ x ８５ x ４６ cm（ＨｘＷｘＤ）
２００９年
撮影 佐知智綱
ギャラリーセラーでの展示風景
"Seated Baby of Chu-cho"
Cast glass, inlaid glass eyes and silver butterfly
Birth size of newborn
2008
Photo by Yoshihiro Kikuyama
Exhibited view at Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art
《宙眺赤子坐像》
ガラス造、玉眼、銀蝶
出生児サイズ
２００８年
撮影 菊山義浩
愛知県美術館での展示風景
© Koichi Matsufuji, All rights reserved