リラックスしたかたち203022/ Relaxed form 203022
2022, 粘土、磁土、釉薬、メディウム/ Ceramic clay, porcelain, glaze, medium
H20.5 × W28 × D29 cm
PRESS RELEASE
Sokyo Gallery (Kyoto) is pleased to present Joe Isanako’s solo exhibition, Amulet.
Isanako's works are created through experimental and sincere communication with materials such as clay and glaze. Her works have been exhibited in various domestic and international exhibitions, and her activities have been expanding in recent years. This exhibition, her first solo show at Sokyo, will feature a total of 34 new ceramic works.
The colorful and unique forms of Joe Isanako’s works, decorated with gold and silver leafing and mesh-like piping, are the result of her relentless exploration of materials. After completing graduate studies in ceramics at Tama Art University, Isanako held a duo exhibition at Sokyo in 2019. The exhibition featured works made with her unique technique of mixing clay with different materials such as metal, stone powder, fallen leaves, nuts, seawater, and shells, and then piping, stacking, and firing the granular clay.
According to Isanako, the process of taking materials at face value while discovering and drawing out their unique characteristics is also about her journey as an artist discovering the unknown realms of herself. Through the nonverbal communication between an artist and her materials, Isanako’s works provide an answer to the question of how the artist accepts reality and what she relies on in the turbulent times of modern-day society.
I believe that healing is some kind of an amulet for the soul.
For me, my cat is a special amulet.
I think everyone including you and I have an amulet—not necessarily a cat—in our souls.
Depending on the person, it may be a family member, someone special, a pet, a flower or a specific view, a piece of clothing, an accessory, a food or snack, a sport, or an anime or video game.
This amulet provides us with emotional support as we live our lives.
− Joe Isanako
According to the artist, all of her exhibited works with ear-like protrusions were inspired by the cats and plants she lives with. The shapes and gentle colors created by allowing the clay and glaze to heat and be pulled by gravity are connected to the "Relaxed form," which is the title of the work. They also remind us of the Japanese onomatopoeia, "guden" and "pechon," which evoke the relaxed appearance that she imagined before creating the pieces.
We hope that through the works of Isanako, which are created by experimenting, discovering and bringing out the individuality of each material, you will ponder about the "amulets" that each of us holds in our hearts.