Based in Kanagawa, Japan, Hirosuke Yabe crafts wooden sculptures using a nata, a traditional Japanese hatchet. His quick, precise chops create unique works ranging from small carvings to towering stacks of expressive faces. Influenced by African masks and modernists like Eduardo Chilida, Yabe’s sculptures address universal human experiences, blending abstracted geometry with profound emotion.

A graduate of Tokyo Zokei University, Yabe’s practice took a pivotal turn after the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Witnessing the fragility of modernity, he began exploring what it means to be human. His sculptures—anthropomorphic creatures, animals, and even monsters—act as metaphors for the human condition. Quirky and tender, each piece invites personal connection, celebrating individuality and shared humanity. In these divided times, Yabe’s work serves as a poignant reminder of our collective human essence.