It seems we humans are always on the search for a little spark of brightness to illuminate the dark.
Who could have ever imagined that the controlled use of fire which began millions of years ago, would continue to captivate our minds today? There is no better reflection of this craving for light than our growing collections of light events, installations and exhibitions – from the simple yet powerful illumination events like Kobe’s Luminarie, to gigantic displays of fireworks igniting the shadow of night skies, and the interactive experiences of creative installations like those designed by TeamLAB and NAKED inc, our obsession with light remains ever clear.

Touching on our love for light is artist Yurukawafu. A modern artist and pioneer of the technique “Hikaribori” (Lit. Light Carving), Yurukawafu specialises in manipulating shadows and light into impressively detailed designs which sit halfway between optical science and realism illustrations.

If you would like to check out some of Yurukawafu’s work, a collection of their light carvings are on display at Kobe’s Fashion Museum until the 22nd of March.

Entitled “The World of Light Artist Yurukawafu – Memory of the Universe”, the exhibition is a first in Japan; displaying 30 pieces of Yurukawafu’s work, each with a height of around 1.8 meters and a width of about 5 meters.
To create each piece, Yurukawafu intricately carves “highlights” into foam board, ultimately creating an image negative. This uneven textured surface is then placed directly in front of LED light sources, which interact differently with the board depending on the remaining thickness.

The exhibition displays a number of themes explored by Yurukawafu, such as outer space, the natural environment, mythology and underwater worlds.

Sky Area

This part of the exhibition showcases Yurukawafu’s development of their hikaribori technique. By combining a number of different types of heat resistant materials, Yurukawafu can depict the depth and graduation of a colourful sky that changes with the seasons.

Hagoromo Mythology Area

Inspired mainly by the legend of Hagoromo, this portion of the exhibition displays light carvings depicting the moon, deities, swans and pine trees. The angelic mood given off by the light carvings reflect the celestial atmosphere often represented in mythological stories.

Sea Area

A passionate diver, Yurukawafu is deeply motivated by the ocean, which he views as the origin of life. In this part of the exhibition, marine animals and deep-sea creatures have been brought to life by utilizing the colours created by the hikaribori technique.

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Born in 1980, Yurukawafu is an artist who specialises in light manipulation. Inspired by Japanese legends, Zen Buddhism and the natural world, Yurukawafu focuses on bringing old and new art together through his Hikaribori technique.

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Exhibition: The World of Light Artist Yurukawafu – Memory of the Universe
Location: Kobe Fashion Museum, Higashinada-ku, Kobe
Dates: 29 January ~ 27 March 2022 Closure days: Every Monday, excepting Monday 21 March 2022
Opening Hours: 10:00 ~ 18:00

Admission Fees
General: 1000 yen
University Students and seniors 65 +: 500 yen
High School and Younger: Free