Kenji Yanobe

Born in 1965, Kenji Yanobe grew up in Osaka at a time when Japanese popular media was flushed with science fiction tales and images. Kenji Yanobe brought these images into his art. Today Yanobe is one of the very unconventional artists of Japan whose works are entirely futuristic and derives its inspiration from world of robots. He is primarily an installation artist who makes fanatastic robotic sculptures including brightly-colored hazmat suits and tiny action figures with built-in geiger counters.

It is difficult to appreciate Kenji’s works in the context of fine arts as his works look more like childish toys inflated to huge sizes. But Kenji is to be appreciated in the context of Japanese technological world and it preoccupation with electronic and computer simulated robotics.

An installation aranged with a complete environment. Kenji Yanobe

Kenji had often exhibited his works in non-conventional sites like the World Expo or trade fairs where his works are viewed mostly by common people than art lovers. In a way Kenji is to Japan what futurists were to Italy and Germany in the 60s.

Like most Japanese contemporary artists Kenji too stays abroad (San Fransisco) and runs a complete unit to manufacture his art works, which involve as much mechanical understanding as the knowledge of art and aesthetics.