Wako Co., Ltd. will be holding "The Shape of the Intangible: Keita Matsunaga Tomonari Hashimoto" in the basement of the Wako main store from Thursday, October 2nd to Wednesday, October 15th.
This exhibition will mainly introduce new works by two artists with different techniques and philosophies, Keita Matsunaga and Tomonari Hashimoto, who create their works using the material "earth."
Matsunaga pursues forms that combine the powerful vitality of nature with the transience of nature itself through art rooted in the earth, while Hashimoto views the entire space as an installation, skillfully utilizing the natural expressions of materials within a structural approach.
How will these two artists, who have different perspectives and methods but resonate with each other through the common material of "earth," give "shape" to the "intangible"? This special two-person exhibition, unique to Wako Arts and Culture, expresses their exploration of things that seem to have "shape" but are formless, allowing you to feel the flow of time and the expanse of space.
■Reception date and time: Thursday, October 2nd, 17:00-19:00 Both Mr. Matsunaga and Mr. Hashimoto will be in attendance.
■ Matsunaga Keita Profile
Keita Matsunaga (born 1986, Gifu Prefecture) is a ceramic artist based in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Architecture at Meijo University in 2010, completed his studies at the Tajimi City Ceramic Design Institute in 2013, and Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craft Studio in 2016. He uses the slip casting method, in which clay (liquid clay) is poured into a mold. The slip naturally separates into coarse clay, fine clay, and stones, and by slowly pouring it into the mold, a clay texture reminiscent of geological layers emerges. These layers are rooted in the soil that has accumulated over a long period of time and the memories of the lives that have been lived there. In recent years, he has been expanding the scope of his activities, holding regular exhibitions at Nonaka Hill (USA).
■ Profile of Tomonari Hashimoto
Photo: Gentoku Katakura
Tomonari Hashimoto (born 1990, Wakayama Prefecture) is a ceramic artist based in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture. He graduated from the Kyoto University of Education, Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts, in 2012. He completed the Graduate School of Crafts, Department of Ceramics, at Kanazawa College of Art in 2014. He completed the Doctoral Program in Ceramics, Department of Crafts, at Kanazawa College of Art in 2017. His works are hand-formed into minimalist forms such as spheres and polyhedrons, and are given unique textures and colors through metallic glazes and carbonization firing. His large-scale works resonate with the space itself, creating new landscapes in their installations. Due to the uncertainty of firing conditions and materials, each piece takes on a different expression, revealing complex color tones. In recent years, he has pioneered new realms of perception by combining ceramics and mortar, juxtaposing distortions and cracks with precise straight lines. Inspired by his childhood interest in nature and sculpture, his work was selected as a finalist for the 2019 LOEWE Craft Prize. His works are housed in museums around the world, including the V&A and LACMA, and are internationally acclaimed.
■ Wako Main Store Basement Floor Arts and Culture
The basement of the flagship store was reborn as "Arts and Culture" on July 20, 2024. This floor is not just a place to shop, but a base for conveying the stories behind the products, such as the traditions and techniques that have been passed down for hundreds of years, the Japanese aesthetic sense born from how we interact with nature, and the time spent pursuing creativity, and is a place for culture and people to interact.
Since its founding as the Hattori Watch Shop, its predecessor, Wako has introduced products that represent the pinnacle of artisan craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, as well as holding regular art exhibitions, fostering diverse perspectives and inspiration through interactions with the people who gather there. Continuing Wako's spirit of respecting arts and culture, we will present the works of Japanese craftsmen and contemporary artists from the unique perspective of our basement floor.
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https://www.wako.co.jp/
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https://www.instagram.com/wako_ginza_tokyo/
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https://www.instagram.com/artsandculture_wako_ginzatokyo/
[Wako Co., Ltd.] Press release
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