Matsumoto Yuma

• EXHIBITION
• EVENT

Photo: Matsumoto Erina

Matsumoto is a straw sculptor born in Gunma Prefecture in 1977. He discovered this medium while volunteering at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, held in Niigata Prefecture since 2000. He focuses on the nature of straw material as a byproduct of grain production. Rice, wheat, and other grains have been a vital food source for humanity. Their byproduct, straw, has been used as fuel, fodder, footwear, and building materials, among other indispensable purposes in everyday life. Matsumoto believes sculptures made from this material represent the very essence of our farming culture. His creative process generally involves collaboration with the local community in the exhibition area. This is partly due to the sculpture’s large size, which exceeds human height. However, the artist also analogizes this creation process, which unites each individual’s capabilities, to the collaborative spirit found in farming. His primary motifs are animals—not only because the organic texture of straw reminds him of animal fur, but also because he strives to express the duality of life and death by sculpting a living creature out of straw, the leftovers of grains.
His work has been exhibited at the Living with Food exhibition (Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Tokyo, 2025), The 29th UBE Biennale International Sculpture Competition (Tokiwa Park, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 2022), Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, 2015), Setouchi Triennale 2013 (Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, 2013), and more.

EXHIBITION

IWASE AREA