Ok, so, “hanging” might be the wrong word for this installment in the column. Perhaps, serenely arranged on pedestals. Or sitting quietly, but intriguingly under warm white light. But in either case, the ceramic sculptures of Saya Moriyasu are an absolute joy to look at in person. The smoothness of the material. The pleasing shape of the blobs that form the body of the sculptures. Each ceramic piece has its own personality and energy that draws the viewer into their world. Moriyasu is part of J.Rinehart Gallery’s exhibition featuring work of the latest additions to the gallery’s roster which also includes Emily Gherard and Lesley Frenz.
Though the whole show isn’t dedicated solely to Moriyasu’s work, there’s still a lot of it on display. One of my favorites is this bright orange ceramic hand that has the warmest of lights inside of it. It’s rather large and a little peculiar, but its simplicity and serenity are what make it so compelling.
I also am deeply in love with Moriyasu’s ceramic Fu dog series that’s based on the Chinese guardian lions which are typically made of stone. Interestingly, in English we call these animals “dogs,” a result of mistranslations and perhaps ignorance. For Moriyasu, these figures represent the way meanings can change depending on the perspective and personal knowledge of the viewer. There are about seven of these Fu dogs on display and each is radically different from the other, but all have their teeth bared, looking out at the viewer with an inscrutable expression.
New Additions at J.Rinehart Gallery is up until December 21—don’t miss it.
