The Presence of Yakimono

The Presence of “Yakimono”
Curated by CIBONE
Ryota Akiyama U-Turn Ushiro

 
May 1st to May 22nd
11 East 78th Street Fourth Floor
New York, NY

Mashiko City, Tochigi Prefecture.

Mashiko City is one of Japan's leading pottery production center, where Jomon (Prehistoric Era) earthenware dating back 4500 years has been excavated and Mashiko-yaki (pottery) itself has a history of 170 years.

We are pleased to introduce two artists from this region who are now pursuing new possibilities for pottery / burned object = Yakimono.

U-Turn Ushiro used to be a fire rescuer and now works as a ceramic artist. While his primary focus is creating ceramics, he also engages in music, video, and physical performance,  each outcome as a vital channel for self-expression and emphasizing his curiosity and connection to the present moment.

Ryota Akiyama belongs to a design collective that focuses on industrial design and he creates his works by diligently researching materials and methods that are suitable for the modern world.

While respecting both the past and the present, his work becomes a means to amplify his own ego, emphasizing personal curiosity and an ongoing dialogue with the processes unfolding in the moment: a reflection of a youthful spirit. Their works emerge from a dialogue with the material, the phenomena of the moment, history, and the collective consciousness of Mashiko, a culture shaped over four thousand years.
The works of these two artists is born from both a long history of tradition and their relentless studies, expressing the new existence of "Yakimono" that will continue to have a meaningful presence into the future.

BIOGRAPHY

Ryota Akiyama: Working from Mashiko, Ryota Akiyama explores the relationship between materiality and history. Through research and experimentation, he filters traditional techniques and concepts through a contemporary lens, reimagining their significance and function. His practice fosters new relationships between objects, people, and space—where the process itself becomes a key part of his artistic expression.

U-Turn Ushiro: A former rescue worker with the local fire department, Ushiro discovered ceramics through hands-on experience. In 2021, he constructed his own underground anagama kiln in the mountains of Mashiko. Working with clay and stones he digs himself, Ushiro fires his pieces with wood, focusing on the elemental presence of fire—its light, sound, transformation, and decay. His practice revolves around the primal act of creation through flame.

For more informations contact:
thefridge@juliendavid.com

 

THE FRIDGE
11 East 78th Street 4th Floor
New York NY 10075