Exhibition Overview Contemporary doll art
We are pleased to present “still life with innocence,” a solo exhibition by doll artist and sculptor Sato Raimu, running from April 11 to April 27, 2025.
Sato Raimu is both a doll artist and sculptor. She taught herself ball-jointed doll making and later enrolled in the sculpture program at Tokyo Zokei University to study human figure sculpture, continuing her sculptural practice through the master’s program. To deepen her understanding of the human body, she conducted research at a medical school’s anatomy laboratory. Sato’s doll works have gained attention for their unique style that fuses human figure sculpture techniques with ball-jointed doll construction.
Sato’s works demonstrate anatomical accuracy while clearly revealing their identity as dolls through visible ball joints. When confronted with figures that share human form yet are unmistakably inorganic, much like still life paintings that express life through depictions of inanimate flowers and fruits, Sato’s works explore the essence of humanity through the medium of dolls.
This exhibition explores the boundaries between the opposing concepts of organic and inorganic through the medium of dolls. The works, with their clay-formed human expressions and exposed ball-joint mechanisms, embody both the static presence of sculpture and the potential for movement inherent in dolls. This resonates with the paradox inherent in the term “still life,” simultaneously evoking in viewers two contradictory perceptions: “life-like presence” and “obvious non-life.” This cognitive dissonance is one of the key attractions of Sato’s work.
Sato’s works inherit the tradition of classical human figure sculpture that accurately rendered the human body in three dimensions, while achieving new expression through contemporary anatomical understanding and unique doll-making techniques. This is grounded in the Western artistic traditions of still life painting and anatomical illustration, with an exploration of the universal theme of “souls dwelling in matter.”
For inquiries about the exhibition and works, please contact info@aaploit.com. We also welcome inquiries about commissioned works.
Exhibition Details still life with innocence
Dates April 11 (Fri) – April 27 (Sun), 2025
Hours Friday, Saturday, Sunday 13:00-18:00 *For other days during the exhibition period, please make an appointment.
Venue aaploit, 2F TMK Building, 1-21-17 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Web https://aaploit.com/raimu_sato_still-life-with-innocence/
Raimu SATO Started self-taught doll making in 2016. From 2023 to present, special research student at Juntendo University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, and participant in Anatomy Tutorials, a group involved in the education and promotion of artistic anatomy.
2023 Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, Sculpture Department Enrolled in Tokyo Zokei University Graduate School, Fine Arts Research Field
2025 Completed Tokyo Zokei University Graduate School, Fine Arts Research Field
Selected Exhibitions 2024 “ANATOMICAL ROOM” (Gallery Le Vant, Tokyo) “Ma Awai Three-Person Creative Doll Exhibition” (Kichijoji Gallery, Tokyo)
2023 “in view” (Gallery Icho no Ki, Tokyo) “Haikara ~Modern Boy & Modern Girl Exhibition” (Fujino Art Museum, Hyogo) “Things Born and Fade Away” (gallery hydrangea, Tokyo)
2022 “Dreams That Goldfish See 2022” (Colmekissa, Kanagawa) “Fantasizing” (Colmekissa, Kanagawa)
2021 “for you,…&for me” (Colmekissa, Kanagawa) “Dreams That Goldfish See” (Colmekissa, Kanagawa) “My Sanctuary in My Room” (Colmekissa, Kanagawa)
2020 “Dreaming Girls” (Mi Amore gallery, Tokyo)