KEI – MEMORIES IN CLAY –

In collaboration with the Japan Cultural Centre (JCC) of Singapore and Mulan Gallery, we proudly presents Kei – Memories in Clay, a solo exhibition showcasing 12 new sculptures in clay by the distinguished artist Ken Mihara of Izumo, Japan.

Pristine forests, rugged ravines, gentle rivers and quiet mountains – these are the landscapes that Ken Mihara grew up in, amidst the majestic scenery of Izumo in western Japan. Mihara’s solemn sculptures are borne of these beautiful idyllic surroundings steeped in the mysticism of ancient Shinto lore. Clay from the hills of his home in Izumo are formed into coils and shaped with his hands, then fired for up to three times in a gas kiln using variations of extreme reduction and oxidation, thereby lending the clay surfaces of these high-fired stoneware their characteristically austere and poetic landscapes. These deeply spiritual, solemn and minimal works poignantly strike deep into the heart, testaments to the austere, minimal and rugged beauty of Japan. They embody the land of Izumo, their forms limning the landscapes and traditions of ancient Japan, wrought through breathing life with fire into ancient clay and earth. Far from only being odes to nature, these works are a window into the artist’s soul, buildings in clay in search of the self.

To Mihara, any kind of clay that can be dug from beneath our feet has a distinct memory of colours trapped within it. The serene simplicity of Mihara’s sculptures – austere palettes of blues and greys interspersed with bursts of beige, gold and orange, coupled with the stark, Zen-like minimalism of their silhouettes – have captivated a global audience and propelled Mihara to his frontrunner status in contemporary Japanese ceramics.