YASUSHI HORI (堀 庸師)
Japanese Sculptor & Garden Artisan
Yasushi Hori is a Japanese sculpture and garden artisan from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, whose practice combines traditional stone craftsmanship, Japanese garden aesthetics, and sculpture. His work explores harmony between nature, humanity, space, and existence.
Mr. Hori graduated from Kanazawa University of Art and Design (金沢美術工芸大学) in 1983. From 1985 to 1987, he studied at the University of Belgrade as a Japan–Yugoslavia Governmental Exchange Student, graduating in 1989 from its Graduate School of Fine Arts, Sculpture Course.
Since the 1980s, he has participated in international sculpture symposia, public commissions, artist residencies, and cultural exchange projects across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. His stone and marble sculptures explore themes of human origins, spirituality, peace, and the relationship between nature and culture.
He contributed to the restoration of Kanazawa Castle, helping preserve traditional stone construction techniques during the restoration of the Kahoku Gate. He was subsequently recognized by the Association for the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Building Techniques of Ishikawa.
In Vietnam, Mr. Hori was the first Japanese artist to organize international sculpture symposia, bringing artists together in Hanoi and Hoi An, beginning with the first international sculpture symposium in Hanoi in 1997. He was later honored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for his contributions to cultural exchange and the arts.
Today, Yasushi Hori continues to create sculptures and Japanese gardens that unite traditional craftsmanship, nature, and cultural heritage, while exploring universal themes of humanity, space, and existence.
Yasushi Hori in conversation with General Vo Nguyen Giap, 1996.
Yasushi Hori in conversation with General Vo Nguyen Giap, 1996.
Yasushi Hori meets Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in the former Yugoslavia, 1986.
Artist Yasushi Hori with his work From the Abyss to the Azure (2011–2012).
Artist Yasushi Hori with the Japanese garden he personally created at Quang Ninh, Vietnam.
Artist Yasushi Hori with his work Heaven from Life, France (2024).
Artist Yasushi Hori with his work Sublimation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2026).
Artist Yasushi Hori with his work The Fall into the Mortal World, Montenegro (2025).
Certificate of Recognition for Yasushi Hori’s contribution to the restoration of Kanazawa Castle, Japan, 2010.
Certificate of Merit awarded to Yasushi Hori by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 2008.
Exhibitions
Selected International Sculpture Symposia & Public Commissions
1987: International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Bar, Yugoslavia (present-day Montenegro). Created Flowing Cosmos and Tying.
1997: Organized the first International Sculpture Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
1998: International Sculpture Project, Hue, Vietnam. Created Flowing Cosmos and River.
1999: Carrara International Sculpture Symposium, Italy. Created Madonna.
1999: Guilin International Stone Sculpture Symposium, China. Created Paradice on the Sky.
2000: Aji International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Kagawa, Japan. Created Space.
2003: International Sculpture Project, An Giang, Vietnam. Created Father Sun and Mother River.
2004: Boryeong International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Republic of Korea. Created Kiss of the Peace and Spacecraft.
2005: International Sculpture Symposium, United Arab Emirates. Created Oasis on the Ground.
2006: Hoi An International Sculpture Symposium, Vietnam. Created Missing River.
2006: International Sculpture Project, Hai Phong, Vietnam. Created Love and Peace.
2006: Chittagong, Bangladesh. Completed the public portrait commission President Zia.
2007: International Sculpture Project, An Giang, Vietnam. Created Go Back to the Heaven.
2007: Youngwol International Sculpture Symposium, Republic of Korea. Created Life.
2007: Isparta International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey. Created Madonna of Turkey.
2008: Afyon International Marble Sculpture Symposium, Turkey. Created Dome.
2008: Vermont International Sculpture Symposium, USA. Created Origin of Life.
2008: Madinaty International Sculpture Symposium, Egypt. Created Origin of Civilization.
2009: Aranya International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Turkey. Created Conclusion.
2009: Youngwol International Sculpture Symposium, Republic of Korea. Created Love Peace Friendship.
2009: Madinaty International Sculpture Symposium, Egypt. Created Sun Bort.
2009: Heliopolis International Sculpture Symposium, Cairo, Egypt. Created Passing.
2010: Caransebeș International Sculpture Symposium, Romania. Created Goddess.
2010: Chittagong International Sculpture Symposium, Bangladesh. Created Hindu God.
2011–2012: Artist in Residence, Les Lapidiales Sculpture Park, France. Created From the Abyss to the Azure.
2013: Matto, JR Ishikawa, Japan. Created Gate of the Streams.
2014: Korea. Created Milky Way.
2023: Puljo, Republic of Korea.
2024: Les Lapidiales Sculpture Park, France.
2024: Molizberg, Germany.
2024: Madhya Pradesh, India. Created Window into Eternity.
2024: France. Created Heaven from Life.
2024: Turkey. Created Spiral of History.
2024: Germany. Created Angel.
2025: Danilovgrad, Montenegro. Created Go to the World of Desire.
2025: Neopolis, Turkey.
2025: India. Created Cosmic Convergence.
2025: Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2026: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Created Sublimation.