Faculty of Art
Department of Fine Art Sculpture Course 立体造形専攻

Understanding Materials, Transforming Spaces

Wood, stone, metal, resin, clay, glass—these and many other materials found in nature form the basis of a course in sculpture.Students create works using various materials, learn about the unique characteristics of different materials, and determine which ones best suit their creative practice.They do this work in a variety of production spaces, all designed to facilitate deep work. These include studios for ironworking, woodworking, modeling, and outdoor production, and students also have access to cranes, forklifts, and other machinery.In this well-equipped environment, students master techniques and concepts through hands-on experience, building the foundation upon which they will create their own works.Students also have opportunities to exhibit their work at art festivals and can even try their hand at planning exhibitions of their own,allowing them to gain the comprehensive, real-world experience required of an artist.

Subject Highlights

  • Creating studies inspired by favorite artists to develop their sensibilities and conceptual thinking

    [Art Expression / Year 3]
    Based on production techniques and knowledge of materials acquired during their second year, students develop the ability to express themselves in their own unique way during their third year of study.To fully express themselves, students need to hone their sensibilities to perceive as much as possible from their everyday experiences.They also need to think theoretically about why they are making art, a process vital to developing concepts for their work.These are the skills that students cultivate through the Art Expression course as they create a study inspired by one of their favorite artists.They first choose an artist they are inspired by, and after in-depth research into the artist and their work, students create a study that they dedicate to the artist.By studying the thought processes and approaches of the artists that they respect, students come to understand themselves as artists and begin to uncover the world they want to express through their art.

What you will study

  1. 1STYEAR

    Laying a solid artistic and creative foundation

    Students take common courses in the Faculty of Fine Arts to develop their foundations as artists and creators, including the ability to observe, think, and imagine.They also learn the basics across all seven courses and start to explore which fields they would like to pursue.

  2. 2NDYEAR

    Learning about Materials and Production Methods

    Students first create sculptures with pliable materials such as clay and use the human body as a motif to learn the basics of material processing, including bronze casting, metal sculpture, wood carving, and stone carving, which they use to explore their own artistic themes and means of expression.

  3. 3RDYEAR

    Studying Theory and Gaining Insights

    Students study art theory, acquire the ability to look at art objectively, try their hand at planning and organizing an exhibition, and create artworks with an awareness of the outside world.

  4. 4THYEAR

    Pursuing Your Own Form of Expression

    Students engage in their graduation work, making full use of the skills and expressive vocabulary they have developed over the past four years of study.While discovering their own originality and means of expression, students complete the final work of their student careers.

What You Will Learn

  • The ability to formulate a concept and select the most appropriate materials and production techniques
  • The ability to process various materials
  • The ability to communicate your creative expression with the wider world

Selected Artwork

Facilities

Our workshops are equipped with machinery that includes cranes and forklifts.

PICK UP!

  • We also have a tilting furnace for casting bronze and other materials.

  • Students work with wood during one of their classes.They also handle a variety of other materials, including stone and metal.

  • In the Mixed Media Studio, students create works by combining various materials, including resin.

Photo Gallery

Metal Casting (Second-year practical training)

Academic Faculty

Careers

Art Careers
Artist, artisan, stage artist, display designer, and many more!

Major Employers
Art studios, event companies, TV stations, sundries manufacturers, educational institutions, and many more!

Voice

  • YASUI Kyoei Current Student

    Using my creativity to challenge preconceived notions of what art can be.

    In my first year of university, I realized that you could do anything with 3D modeling.It all started in the Métier Foundation Course, where I was able to get experience in a range of techniques.The possibilities are endless when you combine what you learn in sculpture with other methods of expression from different fields like photography and graphic design.That is what really attracted me to 3D modeling.I'm currently obsessed with the power that different materials have, and I'm working on metal sculptures using iron, with motifs such as horses and human faces, as well as large sculptures made from bicycle parts.In the Sculpture Course, students experience a full range of methods for working with various materials, such as how to process wood, stone, and resin, as well as metal welding and casting.Classrooms are organized by material rather than year level, so I get to interact with older students and am always inspired by students who are working with different materials than I am.In one class, we planned exhibitions to be held outside of the university and learned techniques for creating events that will successfully combine art with the wider world.When I first came here, I imagined artists hiding out in the mountains and painting all day, but my teachers and classmates had such creative ideas that were so different from the normal ways of doing things that I quickly abandoned my own preconceived notions about how art was created.In the future, I want to do the same thing through my art—use my creativity to challenge others’ preconceived notions of what art can be.
  • YOSHINO Ohji Academic Faculty

    Exploring different materials and expanding your potential.

    I primarily work in wood carving, and recently, I have been participating in art festivals around the country, developing site-specific works. For example, I have worked with farmers to create a chicken coop in a mountain village as a work of art, and I am working on an aquarium-like piece on an island that includes fish and octopuses. I strive to create works that expand upon things I find interesting and present them in a way that is intuitive for the audience. The Sculpture Course covers a wide variety of materials, including wood, stone, metal, resin, clay, and glass, which is what makes this course appealing to students. When we encounter new materials, they greatly expand our possibilities for expression, and because the variety and number of materials we deal with here are infinite, the possibilities for expression are endless. We encourage you to be curious and have a can-do attitude once you arrive at Kyoto Seika, challenging yourself in whatever interests you. Don’t set limits on your potential and free yourself from boundaries, accepting your failures as you push yourself forward. At Kyoto Seika University, many people share your aspirations, and our school culture is one of mutual respect and care, making it the perfect place for those who want to find themselves.