Kamei Yoichiro Exhibition

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - Sunday, September 13, 2009

11:00am-7:00pm
Closed: Wednesday, September 2 and Wednesday, September 9
Exhibits: Lattice Receptacle series, small works ... about

Press Release

Aartland Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of ceramic works by Kamei Yoichiro. Mr. Kamei was born in Kagawa Prefecture in 1974 and is currently based in Osaka.

I first learned of Mr. Kamei's work through a newspaper article reporting that he had won the Grand Prix at the 39th Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition held in 2001. It is difficult to determine from its appearance whether that award-winning work is an "object" or a "thing for use. The title of the work, "Lattice receptacle," suggests that it is a "vessel. However, I could not solve the question as to why this "white structure" made of porcelain clay was a "vessel.

The following year, I ordered the catalog of the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, which I had been curious about, and once again saw clear photographs of his works. The accompanying description of the artist's intent, "vessel-like figurative expression with a lattice structure," indicated that this blue-and-white porcelain ware was indeed a "vessel" in the artist's conception. However, it is not a "vessel" in the general sense, nor does it seem to express the size of a vessel in an abstract sense, such as a capacity. Let me quote from his published paper to see what Kamei-san's definition of "Utsuwa" really is.


What is important in my definition of "Utsuwa" is what kind of "use" is offered to the "inner space" or "hollowness" created by dividing "inside" and "outside" by some kind of boundary. If we view "Utsuwa" as an existence that "receives" some energy from the outside, whether physical or spiritual, and "radiates" it back to the outside through the inner space, it may become a "starting point" for new formative ideas, regardless of its role or form as a vessel, as something that expands the concept of "Utsuwa". It could be the "starting point" for new formative ideas. (Note 1)


The concept of "Utsuwa" that Mr. Kamei derived was fully crystallized in his own coined word "Lattice Receptacle," which is a combination of the words "lattice" and "receptacle.


In this exhibition, he will present three large works from the Lattice Receptacle series, including a new work, as well as more than 10 smaller works. We, the organizers as well as the artist, would like to ask for your frank criticism of the works, which are backed by Mr. Kamei's deep insight and outstanding sense of modeling, as he sees that the "figurative haniwa" of the Kofun period are "tamashii no uchiwa" (Note 2) after quietly extracting "tamashii" from hollowed-out eyes and mouth. We, the organizers as well as the artist, would like to ask for your frank criticism of his works. We invite you to view the exhibition.

Notes
(1) Yoichiro Kamei, "Receptor of Light," pp. 18-19, 2005, Kyoto City University of Arts, Examination Thesis, etc. (Doctoral dissertation)
(2) Yoichiro Kamei, "Receptors for Light," pp. 16-17, 2005 Kyoto City University of Arts, Examination Dissertation, etc. (Doctoral dissertation)
(Responsibility: Takashi Yamashita)