Hybrid of sorts/ Hybrid of thoughts

Yamamoto Keiko Rochaix

23 September - 12 November

Yamamoto Keiko Rochaix is pleased to announce ‘Hybrid of sorts/ Hybrid of thoughts‘, a solo exhibition of Nao Matsunaga. The galley’s first collaboration with the reputed ceramicist will unveil to the UK viewers his expanded language of expression combining his ceramic works and paintings.

A good part of the exhibition will be comprised of the works created during two major residencies in 2021: The 29th International Symposium of Ceramics Bechyně, Czech Republic, and another at Launch Pad LaB, at La Boissière, France.

Large ceramic plate works have neutral white base but all have colourful glaze splashes. Paintings are compositions of mostly bright, energetic colours that fill up the surface of paper and canvas.

These works were created after a long period of hiatus from ceramic making practice due to the lockdowns related to the pandemic. After 18 months of not having touched clay, the artist confesses his timidness and even fear of making ceramic again. In the end it turned out to be a joyous occasion of reunion, of self confirmation of his love of ceramic making. The works displayed at the exhibition are the living witness of that honest pleasure.

Works of Matsunaga project his ways of being: he breathes out his creations as if it was a part of his natural self. What dictates is instinct but not logic, artifice or control. For the artist the work is an expression of natural world surrounding us, and sense of oneness is a seal of approval for each work. Ceramic making process requires a series of body movements working with clay, and for Matsunaga the completed ceramic works are the vessel for records of not only that of movement sequences, but also of energy and emotion, frozen in time.