Newly released "Shinju no Hikari," a never-before-seen May doll made only from wood, by the long-established carp streamer manufacturer "Tokunaga Koinobori. Newly released "Shinju no Hikari," an unprecedented Gogatsu doll made only from wood!

Tokunaga Koinobori Corporation (Okayama Prefecture), a manufacturer of carp streamers, started selling wooden May dolls "Shinju no Hikari" on February 1, 2024.

Product page》.

URL: https://hare-kura.com/products/aihaibara_shinzyunohikari

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New May doll "Shinju no Hikari

In order to create a new May doll that fits the coming era, we commissioned the creation and design of the prototype to the world-renowned sculptor, Mr. Ai Haibara. Ms. Haibara's works are characterized by their warm and gentle expression that makes the most of the charm of wood. In realizing the world view of her work, we worked on a new and unprecedented method of making the dolls, carving solid wood from scratch and painting each one by hand, to create a new and unique May doll.

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The three-dimensional expression of the kimono's patterns and wrinkles, which can only be achieved by sculpture.

The deep colors and warm atmosphere created by applying layers of color are appealing.

■New May dolls made of wood

Haibara's works are characterized by the texture of wood, gentle colors and warmth of expression. They are elegant and Japanese in style, and fit well with modern interiors. The wood used is cypress with soft and beautiful grain. It envelops the space with the gentle atmosphere of natural wood.

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Through the process of carving solid wood from scratch and painting it by hand one by one, we succeeded in reproducing the gentle atmosphere of the piece.

We expressed the three-dimensional patterns of the armor, which can only be achieved by carving. The deep colors and warm atmosphere created by applying layers of color are appealing.

■Modern May doll that fits in with modern interiors

The warmth of wood and the modern design of these May dolls go well with contemporary interiors. The refined appearance of the dolls, which are not too glamorous, fits in any space, whether it is a Western or Japanese-style room. The warmth of the wood and the gentle expression of the doll will watch over your child's growth, and even after he or she grows up, this is a May doll worth cherishing and displaying like a treasure for a long time to come.

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■Artist Introduction

Ai Haibara is a sculptor born in Okayama Prefecture in 1981. She studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and its graduate school, and began actively showing her work in solo and group exhibitions the year after completing her studies. Combining traditional wood carving with acrylic paint, Haibara has developed her own unique world backed by her abilities, and is a rising star in the contemporary sculpture world.

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Profile

Ai Haibara

Biography

1981 Born in Okayama, Japan

2004 Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Sculpture

2006 Completed Graduate School of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, majoring in sculpture (solo exhibition)

2007 Rustle in the Heart, Futaba Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

2008 "Secret Garden", unseal contemporary, Tokyo, Japan

2010 Hajimari no sekai / unseal contemporary, Tokyo

2011 colorful / Butchart International , Contemporary Art Space, Taipei, Taiwan

2013 A World with Love, Okayama Tenmaya 5th Floor Art Gallery, Okayama, Japan

2016 Premonition / Takashimaya Department Store (Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Shinjuku)

2019 To You I Met Someday Somewhere / Setouchi Municipal Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan

　　　　An Anxious Child / Takashimaya Department Store (Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama)

2021 Spectrum of Meteor / Neptune Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

2022 Kimi ni Kotozu / Takashimaya Department Store (Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Shinjuku)

Group Exhibitions

2007 The 2nd Descendants or Future of Atelier / Former Hirakushi Denchu Atelier, Tokyo

　　　　Crossroads -Resonant Art-, Kurashiki City Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan

2008 Three Dimensional Art in the 21st Century vol.2, Matsuzakaya Department Store, Nagoya, Japan

2009 The 6th Inujima Time, Okayama, Japan

2010 The 7th Inujima Time, Okayama

　　　　Japanese group show at Gallery IHN, Seoul.

2011 Three Generations of Wooden Genealogy Exhibition at Takashimaya Department Store, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Shinjuku, Nagoya.

2012 Artistic Christmas vol.VI / Takashimaya Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo

2013 Three-Dimensional Formative Arts in the 21st Century: The Final Chapter of the Series / Matsuzakaya Nagoya, Nagoya, Japan

　　　　Art Now Okayama 2013 / Tenjinyama Cultural Plaza, Okayama, Japan

2014 The 4th Mr. I Award Winning Artists Exhibition / Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan

2015 The 10th Atelier Descendants or the Future Exhibition / Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Tokyo.

2016 Mirage Exhibition, Lower Akihabara, Tokyo.

2017 Shinjuku Takashimaya Art Gallery 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Shinjuku Takashimaya, Tokyo

　　　　Current Traditions: Contemporary Japanese Sculpture", Salisbury University Gallery, Tokyo

　　　　Salisbury University Gallery, Salisbury, MD, USA

　　　　Hana-itis / Lower Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan

2018 XYLOLOGY -Origin and Starting Point-, Former Hirakushi Denchu Residence, Tokyo, Japan

2019 Japanese Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition / Neptune Gallery, Taipei

2020 Fuji You Don't Know: Sculpture of Mount Fuji Exhibition / Takashimaya Department Store, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto

　　　　House of the Rising Light / Dorothy Circus Gallery, London, Rome

2021 SPES-9 Artists Group Exhibition, Gallery Tsubaki, Tokyo

　　　　Rising Triangle - Exploration of Three Sculptors / Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store, Tokyo, Japan

2022 Tatsushio Sculptor Exhibition / Neptune Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

Awards

2011 "Mr. I Prize", the 4th Okayama Prefecture Emerging Artists Development "Encouragement Prize", Okayama, Japan

About products and sales

Product Name ： Ai Haibara Ai's May Doll <Light of New Tree> (May doll)

Price ： 154,000 yen (tax included)

Price ： 140,000 yen (excluding tax)

Material ： Hina doll, base: Japanese cypress

Size ： H235 x W193 x D195mm

Weight ： 850g

Product page: https://hare-kura.com/products/aihaibara_shinzyunohikari