ART SHOES
Shoe engraving
About the Work
You can tell a person's character by looking at their shoes.
Are they meticulous or easygoing, curious or conservative?
You can even glimpse their living environment, economic situation, and health condition.
Shoes are a mirror that reflects people.
I've tried to let shoes tell the story of human society with all its joys and sorrows.
About this Series
This shoe sculpture series was created by Fukaya in 2015 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his atelier's opening, and was presented at the Marino Marini Museum in Florence. The theme was to express human emotions and personalities, such as "The Twisted One" and "The Scream", through the form of shoes.
In Japan, there is an ancient belief that "gods dwell in all things." This is the idea that all existences, from living beings to trees and stones, have souls. This spirituality was expressed through shoes, a symbol of Western culture.
The inspiration for this came from realizing how much a person's shoes reflect their character, through daily interactions with customers as a craftsman.
Beyond the boundaries between artist and craftsman
There is often discussion about the difference between artists and craftsmen. Generally, artists are thought to prioritize self-expression, while craftsmen focus on technique and commercial viability. However, Fukaya questions this perspective. For artists, technique is essential in realizing their expression, and craftsmen, being human, also have a desire for self-expression. Moreover, financial aspects cannot be separated from realizing art. Even Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci created works in response to commissions from patrons. Through years of craftsmanship in Florence, Fukaya developed a desire to challenge himself with creations that only he could achieve, fusing the skills of a craftsman with the individuality of an artist, without being confined to the boundaries of artist or craftsman.
