Sand sculpting is something we have all enjoyed as a kid on the beach. While some of us make hideous little sand mountains with hands use molds to create prettier castles, some artists among us are way above all of this. They manage to make marvelous sculptures using only sand, that holds shape so well that you will have a hard time believing that they are not made of clay.
Toshihiko Hosaka is a 43-year-old sculpture artist based in Tokyo. Graduated from the Fine Art Department of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, with a major in sculpture in 1998, Hosaka has been making sand sculptures for the past 20 years ever since he was in school. The large scale art masterpieces that Toshihiko makes do not use any molds or adhesives. The life-sized figures are made using the moist sand of the beach with the help of a few metal sculpting tools. Each one of his works can take up to a few hours to a few days.
The only sad part about this incredible art is its ephemeral nature, as the beautiful work of art withers away with the slightest blow of wind. Toshihiko has come up with the solution of an environment-friendly “sand art spray” that allows the sculptures to last longer than they usually would. The collaborated with a chemical company to make the specials pray that hardens the outer layer of sand enough to last a few days, safe from the sun, wind or the rain.
One of the most talented sand artists of the world, Toshihiko Hosaka has participated in countless competitions around the world, winning most of them. His sculpture of the legendary Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto was the winner of the recently held Fulong International Sand Art Festival in Taiwan.
Sand sculpting is not Toshihiko’s only talent. He makes three-dimensional artworks with many materials for filming and shops.
Images: Toshihiko Hosaka