Back in 2021 when we last spoke with Japanese ceramic and sculpture artist, En Iwamura, he told us, "I'm still exploring different materials. To be honest, all the colors are decided at the time of spraying—but this often happens by chance. I don't know which object will have which color, because, for me, I mix the clay with the glazes in different proportions for each figure, and then I spray it. Then, when I open the kiln, I am surprised every time at the colors that emerge." And now 4 years later, and looking at his new solo show Mask at Ross + Kramer Gallery, and spanning across 20 ceramic sculptures, including some of Iwamura’s first wall-hanging sculptures, it seems like Iwamura is at a peak in exploring his use of color and shape, material and surface.
As the gallery notes, "A driving force behind this collection of work is a reconnection to child-like senses of curiosity, wonderment, and creativity. In addition to Iwamura’s Mask series, the exhibition includes works from the artists “Neo Jomon: Stacking Neighbor” series. This series was born from observing his son getting to know the world through play. Much like stacked toys, these ceramic sculptures consist of two parts that fit together in dynamic ways to create a whole. This body of work, with its diverse array of shapes, colors, and expressions, retains the distinct vibrancy of glaze, softness of form, and coarseness of texture for which the artist is best known. To achieve these intricate surfaces, the artist allows his hand-built forms to air dry slightly before drawing various tools across the surface of the clay. The resulting rake-like patterns recall Buddhist Zen gardens as well as the cord-marked pottery that characterizes Jōmon culture (10,500 BCE to 300 BCE). While serving as a meditation on parenthood, this series is also an encouragement to reunite with one's inner child."
