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Sculpting the Subject’s Innate Qualities

  • Okumura’s bust of Pope John Paul II (left), standing around 75 centimeters tall (© Okumura Nobuyuki). The statue, shown in the center, sits inside the Barberini Room of the Vatican Library across from a bust of Pope Urban VIII, at right, created by Bernini. (© Vatican City State)

    Okumura’s bust of Pope John Paul II (left), standing around 75 centimeters tall (© Okumura Nobuyuki). The statue, shown in the center, sits inside the Barberini Room of the Vatican Library across from a bust of Pope Urban VIII, at right, created by Bernini. (© Vatican City State)

  • Okumura makes a clay model for the bronze statue of Prince Paolo Borghese. (© Okumura Nobuyuki)

    Okumura makes a clay model for the bronze statue of Prince Paolo Borghese. (© Okumura Nobuyuki)

  • Pope John Paul II thanks Okumura during a celebration held on October 16, 2003, to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of his pontificate. (© Vatican City State)

    Pope John Paul II thanks Okumura during a celebration held on October 16, 2003, to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of his pontificate. (© Vatican City State)

  • Greco (left) and Okumura chat in the former’s Rome studio. (© Okumura Nobuyuki)

    Greco (left) and Okumura chat in the former’s Rome studio. (© Okumura Nobuyuki)

  • The medieval town of Bracciano, about 30 kilometers northwest of Rome. Okumura’s studio is located nearby.

    The medieval town of Bracciano, about 30 kilometers northwest of Rome. Okumura’s studio is located nearby.

  • Okumura at the entrance to his studio.

    Okumura at the entrance to his studio.

  • Okumura’s studio, built in a converted grotto. The artist says this kind of atmosphere is ideal for a sculptor as the job is rough.

    Okumura’s studio, built in a converted grotto. The artist says this kind of atmosphere is ideal for a sculptor as the job is rough.

  • Thinking Hippocrates, housed at the Cosmate Yukuhashi cultural facility in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka. (© Okumura Nobuyuki)

    Thinking Hippocrates, housed at the Cosmate Yukuhashi cultural facility in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka. (© Okumura Nobuyuki)

  • Sculpting the Subject’s Innate Qualities

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