masami yamamoto handcrafts intimate garments from ceramic

FOR MASAMI YAMAMOTO, WRINKLES, SEAMS AND FOLDS EXPRESS MEMORY

based in kanazawa, masami yamamoto is a japanese artist that works with ceramics to express memory through the idea of used clothes. for yamamoto, used clothes have a special type of poetry that highlight the accumulation of time through its laces, seams and even fine folds.

since 2011, yamamoto has been working on a series which features ceramic clothes. from shirts to underwear, her creations imitate reality in such way that sometimes it’s even difficult to comprehend which material they are made from. in her quest for realism, the artist crafts every single detail by hand, without using any pre-made mold. the series observes used clothing and daily necessities, and memorizes the signs of former owners and the anonymous traces of life of people living in modern times in pottery. soft clay is hardened by the process of firing, and has the property of remembering the given image.

the intimate ceramic garments tell stories through every fold, every wrinkle

‘I HAVE THE FEELING THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND MY TIME ARE MIXED TOGETHER’

‘I think that ceramic materials match very well our human existence through its strong presence and brittleness,’ said yamamoto masami. ‘from my thinking concerning the raw material of ceramic and the creation process, this series of pieces uses ceramic material as a memory medium. from the observation of old clothes or objects, I try to memorize the spirit of the owner and his traces.’

‘by using the plasticity of clay, I try to reproduce the softness of clothes,’ the artist continued. ‘through the firing process, the clay is hardened and keeps the image of the object. it becomes a memory medium. I have the feeling that the presence of the previous owner and my time are mixed together. concerning the objects made in ceramic, I feel them like poetic memories of our absolute loneliness and the joys and sorrows of our daily life.’

details have all been handcrafted

THE TEXTURE OF MEMORY

the hiina action gallery in kanazawa, japan, just held an exhibition of masami yamamoto’s work titled the texture of memory. and if you’re interested in seeing a closer look at the artist’s work and a bit of a behind-the-scenes content, make sure you check out her instagram account here.