Metamorphosis of the Tea Tree
— Where the Tea Tree Takes Wing —
2025.6.19 ~ 2025.8.17
新野 洋 ／ 作品名
Art Space Fukujuen presented its fourth exhibition, The Metamorphosis of the Tea Tree — Where the Tea Tree Takes Wing, by artist Hiroshi Niino.
Based in the southern Yamashiro region of Kyoto Prefecture, an area renowned for its tea production, Niino creates intricately detailed sculptural works in synthetic resin by casting and reproducing flowers, plants, and living organisms found in the tea fields surrounding his atelier.
The exhibition also featured antique tools, including traditional tea chests once used in tea production in the region. Through these works and objects, visitors were invited to encounter the rich history and culture of tea in southern Kyoto’s Yamashiro area.
Biography
Born in Kyoto in 1979, he grew up surrounded by nature, fostering a deep interest in living organisms, especially insects.
He graduated from Kyoto University of Art and Design in 2003 with a focus on oil painting, before relocating to Vienna.
In 2004, he entered the Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien. During his studies, his work transitioned from painting to sculptural forms.
He obtained his master’s degree in 2008, returned to Japan in 2010, and has since 2012 been based in the mountainous southern Kyoto area, where he continues to produce his work.