Shumpei Yamaki Exhibition 4/27, 28, 29

Shumpei Yamaki 2013
– Dance with Shape -

Apr. 27th, 28th and 29th

Artist Reception & Sake Tasting

Apr. 27th Sat. 6pm -8 pm

Shumpei just sent pictures of his works which will be on the exhibition.
On this show, we will introduce his works with his dramatic and dynamic background.
Please join us for the Artist Reception on April 27th Saturday, featuring a Sake Tasting presented by NAGAI SHUZO featuring their sake MIZUBASHO.
And don't forget, the exhibition will be on Apr. 27th, 28th and 29th.

Here is his artist statement, it's like a poetry.

“I feel free to communicate with my own language through art. Direct action in the process of creating art is the key to communicating effectively. Results of my action reflect my inner perception.
Learning street dance has taught me how to communicate with others visually and emotionally. My former experience in Hip-Hop culture and Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art) still exists in my body and soul, blending with and influencing my wheel throwing techniques. When I dance, I dance with flow and force. I dance to express my primitive spirit, and my intuition is exactly what I feel at that moment, completely removed from myself.
I view clay on the pottery wheel as a sort of stage for myself as a dancer. When water flows on the surface of clay on a pottery wheel, my hands dance to rhythm and my mind stretches into meditation. Imagination and feelings about clay and water take me to a state of mind as "second nature". As street dance and clay combine through me, the true primitive concepts of these two art forms communicate themselves to the audience; one is ephemeral, the other is permanent. “ –Shumpei Yamaki

その一瞬の感覚を映し出す
轆轤に踊る土の塊。
その一瞬の祈りを映し出す
窯に踊る炎の悟り。

陶芸家としての僕の役割は
人生の軌跡を、自然が秘める美に投影すること

ヒップホップと古着に魅せられ渡米した若者が
思いもよらず陶芸の道に惹きこまれたのは
ある一つの試練がきっかけでした。

２０代後半での大きな交通事故…　
右腕を失いかけ、リハビリの一環として始めた陶芸。
その頃、まさか陶芸が自分の天職になるとは知るよしもありませんでした。
踊りと陶芸というと　まったくかけ離れた別のモノに思われるかも知れませんが、
実は、二つには共通点があります。
音に乗って身体が踊るように
轆轤台の土が、僕の指の感触の上で踊り、形をつくっていく。
踊りも轆轤も練習を重ねることで　自分自身が無意識で楽しみ表現できる自由を得られる。　
そこに　『セカンドネイチャー』とよばれる精神と肉体の融合感覚があります。
脳の中で無意識が空間を伝って僕の体を動かすとき、
その瞬間の自分の内にある感覚そのものが器となって具現化する。

窯の中で熱と炎がその器と交わった時
その土の塊から　人間と自然の感覚を持ち合わせた「真の美」が生まれる。

八巻駿平


* Open Hours *
April 27th Sat.    12pm - 8 pm *Artist Reception & Sake Tasting 6pm - 8pm
April 28th Sun.  12pm - 6pm
April 29th Mon.   10am - 7pm


MIZUBASHO Ginjo : & Junmai Daiginjo
Supported by Nagai Shuzo
*Pure water filtered though the terrain of the Oze calley, and premium Yamada-Nishiki rice, considered the finest rice for making, are brought together at the Mizubasho Kura, to create the Nagai family sake.