Artist Shimpei ARIMA
Shimpei ARIMA Shimpei ARIMA
Shimpei Arima began his artistic practice while in graduate school, creating sculptural works using sugi (Japanese cedar) found throughout Japan.
His signature series, titled "Sugicodama," is carved from cedar and emerges from a dialogue with the human-like spirit he senses within the wood. Arima has exhibited both in Japan and abroad, and his works are installed in various cultural institutions.
BIOGRAPHY
| 1979 | Born in Saga Prefecture, Japan. Lives and works in Oita City, Oita Prefecture. |
| 2004 | Completed Master’s Program in Art Education, Graduate School of Education, Oita University. |
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| 2007 | Ki wo Mite Mori wo Miru (gallery sow/Oita, Japan) |
| 2009 | Sugicodama Exhibition (Living Design Center OZONE/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2011 | 8 gallery Spatial Experiment case study 2 "Sugicodama" (8 gallery/Oita, Japan) |
| 2011 | Sugicodama Exhibition (GALLERY le bain/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2011 | Artwork Display "Sugicodama" (Roppongi Hills West Walk 2F/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2014 | Codama no Kokochi (Gallery YUNOR/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2015 | Solo Exhibition & Talk Event (TORAYA Paris/Paris, France) |
| 2019 | Shimpei Arima Exhibition – Memories of Codama (TORAYA TOKYO/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2019 | Shimpei Arima Exhibition "Clouds" (DOKI ROKKO/Kobe, Japan) |
| 2021 | Shimpei Arima Exhibition "Meeting Codama" (Creative Space kamenos - HOASHI HONKE Sake Brewing Factory/Oita, Japan) |
| 2022 | Sugicodama: Shimpei Arima Exhibition (TORAYA Kyoto Gallery/Kyoto, Japan) |
| 2022 | Shimpei Arima Exhibition "Meeting Codama – Tokyo" (Sarugaku Garou/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2024 | Shimpei Arima Sugicodama Exhibition (Share Office SALT/Fukuoka, Japan) |
| 2025 | Hongo no Sugicodama Exhibition (Fermenting Café Kojichu/Tokyo, Japan) |
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| 2015 | Yuko Jinzenji + Shimpei Arima Exhibition "Seeing the Origin, Creating from the Origin" (GALLERY le bain/Tokyo, Japan) |
| 2016 | "CIAO! The Stirring of Emerging Generation" (OITA ART MUSEUM/Oita, Japan) |
| 2018 | "MONO JAPAN" (Lloyd Hotel/Amsterdam, Netherlands) |
| 2023 | Art Fair Beppu 2023 / Exhibit (Oita, Japan) |
| 2024 | Art Fair Beppu 2024 / Exhibit (Oita, Japan) |
| 2025 | "Beyond the WINDOW: Tomoko Chris, Life and Art" (Daimaru Tokyo ART GALLERY 1/Tokyo, Japan) |
AWARDS
| 2025 | Selected Model, 19th KAJIMA Sculpture Competition |
SELECTED ARTWORKS
sugicodama, 2019
Japanese cedar (approx. 160 years old)
49 x 130 x 77 cm / 19.2 x 51.1 x 30.3 in
sugicodama S494, 2022
sugi cedar (Age: about 300 years)
54 x 80 x 135 cm / 21.2 x 31.4 x 53.1 in
EXHIBITIONS
GROUP EXHIBITION
IMAGINATION
2026.3.13 FRI. - 4.5 SUN.
ARTFAIR
ART FAIR TOKYO 2026
2026.3.13 FRI. - 3.15 SUN.