Shigeru Otani, the singular artist who goes by the alias, Otani Workshop is making his Chinese art debut at Perrotin‘s Shanghai gallery.
“Like A Talisman” features over 100 new works that range ceramics, paintings and FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) pieces spanning the last two years. Observing Otani’s artwork is like submerging oneself into a rich history of Japanese folklore. Where the human and animal figures embody the traditions of totem and anime culture. Although many of these pieces are stripped of emotion, they nonetheless emit a calming energy that can be traced to the artist’s faith.
Otani explains further:
I don’t have a specific religious belief, but I have some kind of a faith, a feeling similar to remnants of a religion. I don’t intend to make occult goods, but the sense of faith lies at the bottom of my creation.
Talisman is not strictly religious and yet represents faith. I thought it would be nice if such feeling could be conveyed in this word.
Under the mentorship of Takashi Murakami, Otani creates a dialogue with the Japan’s neolithic past by sculpting contemporary aesthetics using traditional Japanese techniques, such as sourcing rough clay from his hometown of Shigaraki, in the Shiga Prefecture. Several years ago, Hypebeast documented Otani’s meticulous process on how he transforms ancient Japanese ceramics.
Witness “Like A Talisman” at Perrotin Shanghai until August 14.
In other art news, Hannah Lim creates enchanting sculptures that reflect her South East Asian heritage.
Perrotin
3/F, 27 HU Qiu Road,
Huangpu District
Shanghai, China
200002
