The sculpture depicts a traveler with a backpack, camera in hand, capturing a moment—a reflection on the act of sightseeing itself. The term “sightseeing” embodies both the notions of seeing and light, evoking the interplay of illumination and gaze experienced during travel. Bathed in sunlight, the gilded figure shimmers as a symbol of the reciprocal relationship between viewing and being viewed, marking the point of departure for the artist’s Traveler series.
Beginning his wood sculpture practice in 2000, the artist’s work has primarily focused on the human form. Since 2013, he has participated in art projects across Japan, and in 2016 launched his latest endeavor, the Joy Division Project. This ongoing initiative involves collaborations with professionals from diverse disciplines—scientists, cultural anthropologists, business scholars, and others—under the name Abe Chichibō ÷.