The exhibition title 'tazutazushi (uncertainty)' is taken from the eighth-century Japanese poetry anthology, the Man’yōshū, and reflects the artist’s mindset to always take on new challenges with a positive attitude despite the dark uncertainties of the future in our society today.
Michikawa's works are recognized for powerful spiral forms. His physically intense wedging, cutting, and throwing the form on the wheel, shape the works into their sculptural forms that seem to call upon Michikawa’s upbringing, born and raised at the foot of Mount Usu in Hokkaido, one of the most active volcanoes in Japan.
Volcano pieces, in particular, were inspired by Michikawa’s Hokkaido hometown of Toya, in the shadows of Mounts Usu and Shōwa-shinzan, both active volcanos. The iron glaze was partially applied to the iron-rich red clay and fired in an anagama kiln for three days. In the kiln, the natural ash from firewood fused with the iron glaze to create a unique volcanic lava-like texture. Kohiki Natural Ash Sculpture experiments with the subtle differences between matte and matte luster glazes. Although made from clay dug in the Seto area, the clay is distinctly warm in color. Michikawa’s dynamic throwing technique has caused the tall, rectangular shapes of the upper half to split apart, embodying the centrifugal force applied during his wheel finishing, to create a main attraction of the work.
Our exhibition features his new sculptural works using different colored clays and glazes, with varied dark and reflecting surfaces, produced with nontraditional firing methods. The shapes are complemented by unexpected surfaces created during firing and natural ash glazing, and the subtle contrast of textures is held in a highly refined balance. The expressiveness of his pieces is a true achievement in ceramic art.
The installation echoes the aesthetic of Junichiro Tanizaki’s "In Praise of Shadows". We hope you will enjoy viewing his works where sculptural forms emerge out of shadows and reflections, and beauty lies in the indistinct and liminal space that the Japanese traditionally often prize. Michikawa works out of an aesthetic sense that has developed in Japan since ancient times but brings new dynamism to ceramics. We hope you will take this opportunity to visit a special exhibition.
For more information and images, please contact:
sokyoAtsumi@gallery-sokyo.jp/ Tel: 080-7591-5212
SOKYO ATSUMI 3F TERRADA ART COMPLEX II
1-32-8 Higashi-shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002 Japan
