Kaikai Kiki Gallery

In 2017, Kaikai Kiki Gallery and Takashi Murakami are fully getting behind contemporary ceramics.

As a starter, Takashi Murakami’s Superflat Consideration on Contemporary Ceramics, an exhibition curated by Murakami at the Towada Art Center in Aomori, is something of an opening into Murakami’s attitude toward ceramics explored based on his own collection.

We will also hold a series of group shows during the run of the Towada exhibition under the title An Occasion for Contemplating Ceramics and Sculpture. As the title suggests, these exhibitions explore possibilities of ceramics as sculpture.

1. What are the differences between ceramics and sculpture?
2. The territorial sense endemic within the peculiar field of Japanese ceramics and possibilities of deviation
3. Difference in needs for ceramics and sculpture around the world, outside of Japan

The title and participating artists of the first show are as follows.

An Occasion for Contemplating Ceramics and Sculpture: Seeds Sown in Shigaraki

Yoshitomo Nara
Otani Workshop
Takuro Kuwata
Yuji Ueda

Of special note here is perhaps the rediscovery of artistry in Yoshitomo Nara’s ceramic works. Nara initially started working in ceramics as a rehabilitation method to overcome his intractable illness and, perhaps as a result, evaluation of his ceramic works seemed to have been suspended from the start. At the Shigaraki Ceramic Sculptural Park where he produced these works, however, he has sown new inspirational seeds in a number of young artists.
We will present works by Yoshitomo Nara, the sower, together with those by several ceramic artists who have sprouted as a result, in the hope that the visitors will be able to experience what an utterly fresh breath feels like.
We also plan to host some public talks with Nara and the other artists.

*We will be announcing the details including the dates on our website as soon as they become available.

We are excited to further try out different ideas, whether a talk show that contemplates the situations surrounding ceramics and contemporary art or sales events, so please stay tuned!

Takashi Murakami