Hiroto Ikeuchi

Hiroto Ikeuchi’s creative output is deeply influenced by iconic elements of both global and Japanese pop culture from his youth, such as Star Wars, Zoids, and Gundam. He combines pre-manufactured plastic model pieces with industrial components to craft wearable sculptures and immersive installations. These works reflect a cyberpunk-inspired aesthetic that is firmly rooted in the distinctive style of Japanese anime subcultures. Through this fusion, Ikeuchi evokes a nostalgic yet futuristic vision that captures the tension between past hopes for the future and contemporary realities. Despite the often playful and imaginative quality of his pieces, there is an underlying sense of caution and vulnerability. The masks and full-body gear he creates, which cloak or encase the wearer like armor, serve as metaphors for protection from external dangers. His work probes themes of surveillance, control, and manipulation at both intimate personal levels and broader social scales. By doing so, Ikeuchi expresses the anxieties of a generation grappling with the rapid advancement of technology, highlighting its dual role as a tool for empowerment and a means of exerting control. ...