Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's sculpture, Saw, Sawing, commissioned in January 1995 and installed in March 1996, is a monumental work located at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, also known as Big Sight, in Tokyo, Japan. This striking sculpture, a collaboration between Oldenburg and his wife van Bruggen, represents a large-scale saw, measuring approximately 50 feet 8 inches by 4 feet 9 inches by 40 feet (15.4 x 1.5 x 12.2 meters). It is constructed from materials including steel, epoxy resin, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride foams, and is finished with a polyester gelcoat to give it a durable exterior surface suitable for outdoor display.
The sculpture's theme and form play on Oldenburg's signature style of enlarging everyday objects to monumental proportions, thereby transforming their meaning and interaction with the surrounding environment. In the case of Saw, Sawing, the saw is depicted as if it were cutting through the earth itself, placed on the north side of the Main Entrance Hall of Tokyo Big Sight. This installation not only serves as an engaging visual landmark but also reflects on the interaction between human-made objects and the natural world, a recurring theme in Oldenburg and van Bruggen's collaborative works. The piece harmonizes with its surroundings while adding a unique, artistic touch to the urban landscape, attracting attention and inviting public engagement with art in a communal space (Smithsonian Institution) (Art@Site).