Ceramic Sculpture

Description

Yagi Kazuo
Japan, 1918–1979
Ceramic Sculpture
Showa period (1926–89)
ca. 1958
Stoneware
Museum purchase, 1963/2.73

In the immediate aftermath of World War II (1939–45),
Yagi Kazuo founded the avant-garde ceramist group
Sodeisha (Crawling Through Mud) Association. This
group fearlessly questioned traditional techniques and
materials—such as the use of the potter’s wheel and
the standard application of glazes—to explore new
possibilities in ceramic art.

In this work, he plays with the notion that ceramics
should show a clear distinction between interior and
exterior. To create the unusual surface, he first made
small, thin strips of clay that were then wrinkled by his
wife, the textile artist Takagi Toshiko (1924–1987). Next,
he built two walls by compressing these coils. Once the
form was finished, he used a board to flatten the surface
areas. The contrast of the smooth walls and intestine-like
inner texture contributes to the impact of this work by
transforming the often empty interior space of a ceramic
vessel into a body-like form, with organs held inside by
external skin.

Fall 2022 Gallery Rotation
__________

Yagi Kazuo
Japan, 1918–1979
Ceramic sculpture
Showa period (1926–1989)
circa 1958
Stoneware
Museum purchase, 1963/2.73
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Yagi Kazuo was the central figure of the avant-garde ceramist group Sôdeisha (Crawling Through Mud Association). This group fearlessly questioned orthodox techniques and materials—such as the use of potter’s wheels and the standard application of glazes—to explore new possibilities in ceramic art. Yagi’s nonfunctional ceramic work was, in turn, a profound inspiration to later generations of Japanese clay artists.
To create the unusual surface seen here, Yagi first made small, thin strips of clay that were then wrinkled by his wife, the textile artist Takagi Toshiko (1924–1987). Next he built two walls by compressing these coils. Once the form was finished, he used a board to flatten the surface areas. The contrast of the smooth walls and intestine-like inner texture contributes to the impact of this work.
(Turning Point exhibition, Spring 2010)
In the immediate post-World War II period, Yagi Kazuo was the central figure of the avant-garde ceramist group, Sôdeisha (Crawling through Mud Association). This group fearlessly questioned orthodox techniques and materials—such as the use of potter’s wheels and the application of glazes—to explore new possibilities in ceramic art. Yagi’s nonfunctional ceramic work was a profound inspiration to later generations of Japanese clay artists.
To create the unusual surface of this work, Yagi first made small, thin strips of clay that were then wrinkled by his wife, the textile artist Takagi Toshiko (1924–1987). Yagi then built two walls by compressing these coils within the contours. Once the form was finished, he used a board to flatten the surface areas. The contrast of the smooth walls and intestine-like inner texture contributes to the impact of this work.
(Label for UMMA Japanese Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)
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In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Yagi Kazuo was the central figure of the avant-garde ceramist group Sôdeisha (Crawling Through Mud Association). This group fearlessly questioned orthodox techniques and materials—such as the use of potter’s wheels and the standard application of glazes—to explore new possibilities in ceramic art. Yagi’s nonfunctional ceramic work was, in turn, a profound inspiration to later generations of Japanese clay artists.
To create the unusual surface seen here, Yagi first made small, thin strips of clay that were then wrinkled by his wife, the textile artist Takagi Toshiko (1924–1987). Next he built two walls by compressing these coils. Once the form was finished, he used a board to flatten the surface areas. The contrast of the smooth walls and intestine-like inner texture contributes to the impact of this work.
(Turning Point exhibition, Spring 2010)