Sculptor Tomita Natsumi (b. 1986, graduated Tama Art University Department of Painting), active both in Japan and abroad, creates animal sculptures brimming with humor, assembling her works from such a diverse variety of disused items as snack and drink cans, broken musical instruments and video game hardware, cooking utensils, construction site signage, and more. From Tyra the tyrannosaurus, Hajime the vivacious chimpanzee, to Dodo and Mido the dodos, all of Tomita's creations have unique names.
She also creates human figures from used paper, affectionate caricatures of inhabitants of the modern-day world including a 'salaryman,' housewife, high school student, senior citizens, and more.
Attached to each figure is a newspaper or magazine article characteristic of the person depicted, and Tomita's warm yet acute observations of people and society are charming.
This exhibition also marks the first display of Martha, the crowned crane, Tomita's latest work assembled from scrap metal provided by factories of the Yamazaki Mazak Corporation, the parent body of the Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Art. See the world of Tomita's creations that has fascinated people of all ages through this exhibition of animal and human figures, around 70 pieces in all.

When: Until Sun. 14 Mar. (Weekdays 10:00 - 17:30; Sat., Sun. & national holidays 10:00 - 17:00; Last entry 30 minutes before closing.) Closed Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) and 28 Dec. to 4 Jan.
Where: The Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Art (ヤマザキ マザック 美術館) 4F Exhibition Room, Higashi Ward (東区)
Access: Connected to Shinsakae-machi Sta. (新栄町駅, H11) Exit 1 on the Subway Higashiyama Line (地下鉄東山線).
Admission: General Admission 1,200 Yen; Senior and Junior HS students and Elementary students 500 Yen; Pre-school aged children free.
Website: www.mazak-art.com

Photo courtesy of Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Art