Arario Gallery in Seoul, South Korea recently presented the solo exhibition Industrial Bishōjo by Don Sunpil, from July 12 to August 19, 2023. The art exhibition explored Sunpil’s critique of Bishōjo (lit."beautiful girl") figurine culture, which is closely intertwined with the world of Japanese animation. For Sunpil, Bishōjo figurines have already sparked inquiry into the semiotics that are built around them, but this time around, the artist explored them from the perspective of producers who work meticulously on the figurines, often themselves coming from a position of deep affection for the figures, which become much more than mere toys.
The exhibition Industrial Bishōjo, as its name suggests, looked at the human and capital driving forces behind Bishōjo, toy design through a video art piece, 24 sculptures and four photographs. Sunpil discussed the exhibition, along with his own personal relationship with Bishōjo, in an interview with STIR.
