Meet The Collective That is Melting Anime Culture into Art
What if you like girly dolls, anime character collectibles, video game figurines, and action figures?
Artist collective Three is of the same opinion, and it shows through their most recognizable pieces. Also stylized as 3 or three, this group is known internationally for its unique sculptures and installations. Visitors were able to get a glance at their past projects during this year’s Art Fair Tokyo.
Born in 1986 in Fukushima, Japan, three artists formed Three in 2009. They have been active since and have held exhibitions and events in South Korea, China, the United States, and various other countries all over the globe.
Three’s art is a meeting ground for minimalism and maximalism. Their simple titles add to the sense of collectivism and anonymity that their art presents, and rather than being straight-forward in its story-telling, the object of each of their project is abstract and interpretive.
All in all, this artist group aims to use the concepts of mass-produced random items in order to turn them into unusual objects.
Using a technique involving pressure and heat, Three melts together vinyl figurines to create character silhouettes, meticulously shaped cubes and rectangles, and partly polished spheres. They have also created iPhone and TV sculptures using this method, as well as sculptures in the shape of a phone case.
This toy-craze collection began in 2014. In addition, this collective is also recognized for its soy-sauce bottle and candy sculptures. Their work inspires awe and you can’t help but wonder how they managed to create such unimaginable and astonishing pieces.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
