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Design Keisuke Iwata
Made in Japan
Dimensions L 17.5cm x W 10cm x H 9.5cm
Material Ceramic
Iwata/Iwata II
We are once again thrilled to host our second Iwata/Iwata exhibition here at Mjölk. We first met Keisuke and Michiko while working on the 4th volume of our Mjölk book series back in 2016. They invited us to their home in Fukuoka, where their living space and studios are built onto the hill overlooking the ocean. Seeing Keisuke’s pottery studio, I was surprised to find a traditional kick wheel in use instead of a modern electric one. He prefers the dwindling force of the kick wheel, and feels it results in a more natural shape in the clay.
Shelves are adorned with seashells which are collected on walks along the beach, their soft impressions are sometimes found as a natural decoration on the surface of clay bowls and dishes. Shells have long been used when making pottery, as they do not melt during the firing process. They are perfect for lining kiln shelves and as separators for keeping pots from sticking to each other.
Heading over to Michiko’s studio, the feeling in this space is different. While Keisuke’s studio is more textured and darker, Michiko’s is bright with white walls, windows and pale wood flooring. Here fragments are built from found materials and put together to create sculptures, framed works and boxes. Many of the compositions are inspired by old buildings in Japan that use a hodgepodge of materials for temporary repairs leading to a patchwork of colours and textures. Many of these buildings have been torn down and lost through the years, and these sculptures pay homage to them. Her collection of storage boxes are inspired by the wood boxes commissioned to hold prized works of decorative arts. These are adorned in old scraps of paper, finding the stories hidden deep within them.
Since our own gallery is founded by a husband and wife team, I think we are very interested in couples who are creative as well. So it’s wonderful to host them together and see how their work communicates with each other. As a followup to their first exhibition with us in 2017, this newest exhibition is titled simply Iwata/Iwata II.
