Shida Kuo | Solo Exhibition in SOKYO ATSUMI

Shida Kuo’s solo exhibition will be held at SOKYO ATSUMI from Saturday, July 8, 2023, to Thursday, September 7, 2023. Using ceramic and wood as materials, Kuo searches for forms that have an integral, pre-linguistic relationship to our bodies. All of his works are expressive and are made with simplicity and warm taste, and it seems that even his own generous personality is conveyed through his art. Why not visit to enjoy the world of his unique artwork, which are neither oriental nor western?

Upon opening the gallery door, you will find 24 works of art, including etchings presented by Kuo, standing peacefully. You might say that you are greeted by the works, or that you encounter them. Each work is expressive and friendly in form and texture, and each one even has a human touch.

Through the creation of his art, Kuo continues to ask the question, “Why do people of different origins and backgrounds respond to certain forms and materials in the same way?” According to Kuo, it has to do with the fact that he was born in Taiwan and spent many years living in New York, a city with diverse values.

Exploring the relationship between line, form, and space, Kuo’s sculptures are known for their organic, yet geometric forms, which can be seen to be inspired by primitive art, ancient tools, and the lifestyles of his Asian ancestors. Kuo’s works transcend time and space and appeal to many different people. Through the physical act of creation, he reconsiders the meaning of materials such as earth/clay and wood, which have been used by humans since prehistoric times.
Kuo emphasizes that each piece has its own life and is not necessarily related to another in any series. The pieces in this exhibition are diverse not only in form, but also in texture, with glazed pieces, spoon-polished surfaces, and combinations of wooden materials, which seems to prove Kuo’s words.

In recent years, he has become interested in creating wooden pedestals or feet that are integrated with strong central shapes and end up being incorporated into his ceramic pieces. Wooden feet often become part of the sculpture. An incongruous solidarity between materials, ceramic and wood, enlivens Kuo’s vision for his art.

In a final analysis, the smooth shapes that characterize many of Kuo’s work, construct calm, even architectural, spaces, alone and in response to each other. However, if you were to look at his work on its own, if you owned a piece of his work and placed it in your Japanese or Western-style room, or outdoors in a garden, you could easily imagine it continuing to exist in some relationship with the surrounding environment and elements.

Shida Kuo’s solo exhibition has already been held twice (2014 and 2017) at SOKYO (Kyoto, Japan), but this is the first time it will be held at SOKYO ATSUMI (Ten-nozu, Tokyo).
From the photos in this article, you can see the forms of the pieces, but they don’t fully convey the subtle differences in texture between them. Why don’t you visit the gallery and see his work for yourself?