Naoki Shimoyama is a sculptor who creates wooden works centered on animal forms, exploring the presence that emerges at the boundary between the visible and the unseen. In his practice, animals function not as mere representations of nature, but as filters that connect different dimensions and layers of consciousness. While his sculptures possess a strong physical presence, they remain in a constant state of transformation, oscillating between reality and imagination, visibility and invisibility. Through carving, Shimoyama seeks to capture the very moment when existence takes form. His works embody not only the vitality of living beings, but also layered perspectives on society, history, nature, and life. Born in 1972 in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan, Shimoyama completed his MFA in Sculpture at Tama Art University. He has exhibited widely in Japan and internationally, including solo exhibitions at major venues such as Nihombashi Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya. He has also served as a lecturer at Tama Art University, Nagaoka Institute of Design, and Joshibi University of Art and Design. In 2025, he held his first solo exhibition at SHIKISAISHA, “LOOK BACK,” presenting works that reconstruct past ideas and memories from a contemporary perspective. In 2026, he is scheduled to present a solo exhibition, “SHIN × Beast,” at Ginza Tsutaya Books.