Musuhi

むすひ 

 

Maud & Mabel is honoured to present Musuhi むすひ, a group exhibition showcasing eleven innovative contemporary artists and craftspeople emerging from Japan. There is a phenomenon in the emergence of their work, an animism of the kiln, a presence in the formation, or an unspoken influence of the landscape. Forming an exciting ensemble of Ceramics, Wood, Painting, and Glass - these artists conjure a life force that emanates from the material.

  

9th – 25th May 

 

PV – 5-7.30pm Thursday 9th May

Location: 10 Perrins Court, Hampstead, London, NW3 1QS 

Online from 7.30pm Thursday 9th May at www.maudandmabel.com 

 

Takefumi Aoki (Ceramics)

Hiroko Hatano (Glass)

Marie Higashi (Painting)

Sonoko Matsuda (Glass)

Masako Nakagami (Ceramics)

Gaku Nakane (Ceramics)

Kazunori Ohnaka (Ceramics)

Koichi Onozawa (Ceramics)

Masami Tokuda (Wood)

Hiroshi Toyofuku (Ceramics)

Masahiko Yamamoto (Ceramics) 

 

  

Musuhi is a concept deeply rooted in Shinto belief and represents a life force existing before recorded history. This spiritual influence is believed to be responsible for the creation and growth of all things in the universe, guiding them through their cycle of development and completion.  

“I can't feel that I made the finished work. There is always a feeling that something is being made or allowed to be made by a great force. That has a great influence on the production.” 

- Masami Tokuda

 

This exhibition will explore the powerful and complex expressions of materiality and spirituality within the methodologies of making, with a particular emphasis on Japanese aesthetics and its history of unique craft. From the marbled, stratified surface of Hiroshi Toyofuku’s Bizen pottery to the poetic forms of Gaku Nakane’s Shigaraki vessels, an exploration between the hand-made and the naturally formed. The dynamism of Masako Nakagami’s ceramics mimics the surrounding nature of her studio, while Sonoko Matsuda intricately replicates the language of the flower in delicate glass receptacles. The collection presented encompasses a range of functional, pictorial, and sculptural works, masterfully crafted with an eloquent amalgamation of traditional and experimental techniques. 

 

“From the very beginning of human formation, earthenware and other tools were associated with the concepts of aesthetics and mythology as well as function. But my pieces are not merely decorative tools, and I feel my mind is in tune with the ancient people who were in harmony with nature.” 

- Masahiko Yamamoto

We invite you to the showcase of Musuhi to celebrate the work of these eleven contemporary artists. The exhibition will be held from the 9th – 25th of May with a private view in the evening of Thursday 9th May 5-7.30 pm at Maud & Mabel, 10 Perrins Court, Hampstead, London, NW3 1QS. Our online show will commence at 7.30 pm on Thursday 9th May at www.maudandmabel.com.