What rises

The exhibition "What rises" by Yasushi Amano presents sculptures created using the te-bineri technique, where coils of clay are layered to form shapes that rise and enclose space. Amano's work is figurative and anchored in the human body, drawing inspiration from the Sōdeisha movement in Japan, which advocated for ceramic art free from utilitarian functions and focused on formal experimentation. His process involves constructing forms around a void, which he considers a reflection on existence itself. The sculptures are fired using a carbonisation process (tanka), where Amano applies various ashes and engobes to influence the final appearance, creating contrasts between light and shadow. He also experiments with glazes, observing their chemical reactions with carbon.

Inspired by the calcified remnants of the Four Celestial Kings at Kyoto's Tōji temple, Amano's pieces often appear as raw, elementary masses, evoking a sense of irreducible humanity. The works, ranging from abstract to figurative and varying in color from pale white to charcoal black (sometimes achieved with coffee grounds), are titled with states rather than descriptions, such as "Waiting for Morning" and "Coming Home." This exhibition marks Yasushi Amano's first solo show.