AIFA’s first winter exhibition in Verbier proposes a dialogue between form and colour expressed by the dynamic relationship between Natsuki Shibata’s sculptural figurative ceramics and Nanami Azuma’s abstract layered compositions.

Shibata's work blends street and pop culture, ancient Japanese ceramic techniques and traditional Buddhist influences. He uses traditional coil-making techniques but opts for vibrant colour paintings instead of glazes, which makes his sculptures memorable and joyful while addressing more profound issues around faith and personal values. Through colourful elements like hoodies, down jackets, and curved shapes, Shibata's sculptures represent the human form and spirit, inviting viewers to reflect on their own beliefs, perspectives and faith.

Through a combination of form, shape, and colour, both artists offer a dynamic and unique balance of heritage and modernity in their respective creations while addressing more profound reflections.

Azuma’s abstract paintings, through meticulous layering of lines and colours, explore structured composition, repetition that is almost meditative, and randomness. 

From these simple structures, she constructs intricate compositions where lines join to form shapes, and shapes interact to create space. The colours are layered to create depth and vibrancy. Whether straight or curved, thin or thick, these lines are used to create complex compositions that feel both structured and organic. Her acceptance of imperfections reflects the influence of Japanese artistic traditions, while her artistic approach is drawn from movements like Color Field and abstract expressionism. Azuma invites the viewer to search for their preferred composition reflecting their own unique and intricate structures.