Kenji Gomi
Born in Chino, a city famous for its pottery’s excavation, Kenji Gomi saw the collection of pottery collected by his grandfather and one of the oldest memories of his childhood is the decoration of the room where the collection was exhibited. However, at this time he wanted to become a basketball player, but due to an injury, he had to change his plan. One day, looking at books, he discovered one on ceramic and felt attracted by it, so he decided to learn pottery. For Kenji, sometimes, things are just meant to happen, and he now feels it was somewhat natural and his destiny to become a ceramist artist.
Despite his young age, Kenji Gomi is an established contemporary artist with multiple years of ceramic art experiences. In 2001, he graduated from Waseda University and later moved to Okinawa in the southern Island of Japan where he studied “Tsuboya-yaki”, an ancient ceramic making technique.
Kenji Gomi ceramic works examine the true nature of ceramic, and reveal the artist's interest in the legacy left by the Jōmon potteries and the unearthed relics discovered in Chino, Nagano Prefecture. These relics attracted him, as one may feel the essence of the people who created them. Kenji's moulding technique, even though being no different from the one used at that time, aims to create art by combining uniqueness and universality.
As a reminiscence of those primitive potteries, Kenji has renounced the use of artificial glazes, letting the oxides of the clay react with the firing process. This results in a predominantly black, grey, white, or earthy colour scheme. As the firing process strongly affects the selection of materials, influences the choice of shapes and creates the unique texture and colours of his sculptures, it has naturally become the most important process in the creation of his pieces.
The power of ceramics lies in the fact that there are very few changes in the appearance of the work, surviving by far their creators in original shapes. It is the strength of this media to record, and to deliver memories and Kenji aims that his work goes beyond time and space as it is the case for the works of the great ceramists of the past. The unique organic curving shapes of Kenji's sculptures stand along with a mysterious texture, captivating viewers’ attention and procuring serenity feelings.
As an illustration of his talent, Kenji has received many distinctions and awards throughout the years, such as the Grand Prize (Katsuranomiya Trophy) at the 25th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition in 2019. His work is also part of the reputed Victoria & Albert Museum’s collection in London, making Kenji an ambassador of the Japanese ceramic art community.
Selected works
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![Sai do ki]()
![Sai do ki]()
Sai do ki
SKU 00176CHF 3 500,00More information -
![Sai do ki]()
![Sai do ki]()
Sai do ki
SKU 00187CHF 3 900,00More information -
![Sai do ki]()
![Sai do ki]()
Sai do ki
SKU 00188CHF 3 300,00More information
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Contact
Adrien Iynedjian, Director Switzerland
a@aifa.art / +41 79 834 23 47