Hiroyuki Nishimura uses reclaimed wood and scavenged materials to produce outwardly sculptural, provocative furniture and decor. Harvesting felled and abandoned trees from the Shonan and Izu Peninsula areas of Japan, Nishimura chooses to work in the medium that speaks to him. Zougei Inc. is the name of his furniture studio in Yugawara, Japan.
While much of the wood Nishimura reclaims is largely deemed unsuitable for conventional furniture or for any other building projects, his proficiency with sculpture proves otherwise, with the artist-designer bringing new life to the material and creating interesting bookcases, side tables and magazine racks through hand-carving techniques and the occasional use of a chainsaw. Nishimura works with the shape of any given fallen tree — he rarely works against the natural form of his chosen material — and creates works that hold a primal appeal and often resemble ancient totemic artifacts.
Born in Osaka, Japan, Nishimura attended the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1986. After graduating, he began working as a prep school teacher, while also pursuing his love of art through sculpting wood. In 2008, Nishimura opened his own studio Zougei Inc. Today, Zougei has production facilities alongside Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Nishimura has won several awards and performed many solo exhibitions throughout his career. His numerous accolades include the Silver Award at the 8th Kajima Sculpture Competition in 2004 and the Grand Prize Award at the 10th Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition in 2010. His many exhibitions include solo shows at the Sekiguchi Art Museum in Tokyo and the GEM Art Gallery of Tokyo.
Find Zougei furniture on 1stDibs.
Zougei wood Sculpture Shelf Bookcase Televisore
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Cardinal and Mr.Tower Sculptural stool by Zougei carved furniture Material: osmanthus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used for Nishimura...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural wood Chair glamping
By Hiroyuki Nishimura, Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Irritable person Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: zelkova. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zougei Furniture Sculptural Stool 3 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day for going to the ocean Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. M...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool19 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day go to the hill Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of w...
Wood
Zougei wold wood Sculpture Shelf Bookcase K1
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Cardinal and Mr.Tower Sculptural stool by Zougei carved furniture Material: osmanthus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used for Nishimura...
Wood
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool16 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A thread windings Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Machilus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of woo...
Wood
$1,844 / item
H 17.52 in W 16.34 in D 13.19 in
21st Century Studio Irvine Betti Concrete Stool in Brick Red Cement Handmade
By Marialaura Rossiello
Located in Rome, Lazio
Surrealism, primitivism, metaphysics and brutalism. Art together with architecture and design build a scenario of inspirations and continuous references through which the material ri...
Concrete, Metal
Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Sculptural Chairs
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural Arthur Umanoff chairs with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Floating backrest. Look great from all angles. Good vintage condition. Five available. Pr...
Iron
'Le Temoin' Stool by Man Ray for Gavina
By Man Ray, Gavina
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Beautiful example in pristine condition, designed by Man Ray for Gavina's ultramobile exhibition.
Faux Leather, Acrylic, Foam, Plywood
Gufram "the End Stool Is Black" by Toiletpaper
By Gufram Furniture, Toiletpaper, Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The funeral look of this furniture-sculpture is tempered by the softness of the polyurethane that makes it: in perfect Gufram tradition nothing is as it seems. "THE END in BLACK" is ...
Paint
Bookcase/Shelf With 3 Shelves & Wheels In Mahogany
Located in Lejre, DK
19th century mahogany bookcase/shelf. The furniture is furnished with three shelves and detailed turned columns. At the bottom it is mounted with small wheels, which provides both fu...
Mahogany
Custom Made Lucite and Wood Sculptural Chair
By Iconic Design Gallery
Located in Miami, FL
Custom Made Lucite and Wood Sculptural Chair Offered for sale is a custom made lucite and wood sculptural chair which is not only functional but makes a strong design statement.
Lucite, Wood
Sculptural Solid Wood Chair by Mobius Objects
By Möbius Objects
Located in Calgary, AB
Complex yet functional joinery transcends trends making this piece a timeless addition to any interior decor. On it's own or as a set, a contemporary classic. One American Black ...
Wood, Walnut
Arts and Crafts Oak 3 Shelf Bookcase
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Oak 3 Shelf Bookcase This small Oak bookcase has an open front and is enclosed at the sides The bookcase is made in oak with styl...
Oak
Pair of French Sculptural Wood and Cane Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible pair of wood and cane chairs from France, 1950s. Sculptural wood frame with slopped cane seat and curved detail on sides. Original wood finish and cane show nice age and p...
Cane, Wood
$6,500 / item
H 43 in W 13 in D 13 in
TOTEM Modern Stackable Stools in White Oak & Concrete by Estudio Persona
By Estudio Persona
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TOTEM is an sculptural looking piece, formed by four different elements: two stackable wooden stools, a heavy concrete base and a wooden top tray. Both stools and the tray are made...
Concrete
Sculptural Teak Wood Stool
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderfully sculptural teak wood stool featuring a curved seat. The mix of wood textures and shades adds to its charm. Its neutral color and minimalist shape make it suitable for a...
Teak
$950
H 31.5 in W 20.63 in D 10 in
Vintage Bamboo Rattan Decorative Shelf Etagere Bookcase, 1950s-1970s
By Vivai del Sud, Bonaccina, Franco Albini
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage wicker rattan and bamboo cane display, bookshelf, or etagere features 3 tier form with open shelving. The convenient size allows the shelf to be used standing directly on the...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
Zougei Jenga Sculpture Shelf Bookcase 05
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Jenga Sculptural stool by Zougei carved furniture Material: Zelkova This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood ...
Wood
Sold
H 16.54 in W 11.82 in D 11.82 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool15 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day go to the hill Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of w...
Wood
Sold
H 17.52 in W 12.6 in D 9.45 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool14 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: City man Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Machilus This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used fo...
Wood
Sold
H 16.93 in W 12.21 in D 11.82 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool 3 Tribal Glamping
By Zougei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day for going to the ocean Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. M...
Wood
Sold
H 17.72 in W 11.03 in D 13.78 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool4 Primitive African Art
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Hermit crab Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Cypress. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood used...
Wood
Sold
H 16.15 in W 12.6 in D 12.6 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool3 tribal glamping
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: A day for going to the ocean Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Quercus. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. ...
Wood
Sold
H 14.38 in W 11.82 in D 12.21 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool2 Primitive African Art
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Name: Foot of mountain Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material: Quercus. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws. Most of wood...
Wood
Sold
H 18.9 in W 11.82 in D 9.85 in
Hiroyuki Nishimura and Zogei Furniture Sculptural Stool glamping African Art
By Zougei, Hiroyuki Nishimura
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Mamma Sculptural stool by Hiroyuki Nishimura and zone carved furniture Material zelkova. This work is carved from log with some kinds of chainsaws.
Wood