Our Co-Founder Writes on Grayson Perry’s Delusions of Grandeur for Harper’s Bazaar Japan

We are pleased to share that our Co-Founder has written a feature for Harper’s Bazaar Japan, covering Delusions of Grandeur, the major new exhibition by Grayson Perry at the Wallace Collection in London.

Perry, one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists, presents over forty new works across ceramic, tapestry, drawing and digital media. The exhibition responds directly to the Wallace Collection’s Rococo splendour and historic holdings, resulting in a rich, layered dialogue between past and present.

At the centre of the exhibition is Shirley Smith, a fictional woman who wakes up inside the museum believing herself to be its rightful heir. Her story, filled with both tragedy and wit, forms the emotional core of the show. Through Shirley, Perry examines ideas of beauty, fantasy, identity and class, blending social critique with personal reflection.

The article touches on the ways Perry draws from the spirit of outsider artists such as Madge Gill and Aloïse Corbaz, while also introducing AI-generated portraits and detailed ceramic works that explore both craftsmanship and delusion. It is a world where tenderness and satire co-exist, all within the theatrical surroundings of the Wallace Collection.

You can read the full article (in Japanese) here.

Duo Exhibition: Kan Matsuzaki | Kei Shimaoka – Elements in Balance

We are pleased to present Elements in Balance, a duo exhibition featuring the ceramics of master artists Kan Matsuzaki and Kei Shimaoka from Mashiko, Japan. Their work honors traditional craftsmanship while embracing contemporary form and texture.

Venue St Mary’s Church, 2 Elsworthy Road, Primrose Hill, London NW3 3DJ

Date/Opening hours
Saturday, 1st March: 10:00 – 14:00
Sunday, 2nd March: 12:30 – 16:00

Our Co-Founder Contributes to Harper’s Bazaar Japan on Theaster Gates’ latest exhibition, 1965: Malcolm in Winter: A Translation Exercise at White Cube Bermondsey

Arti Fiant is pleased to share that our Co-Founder has contributed an article to Harper’s Bazaar Japan on Theaster Gates’ latest exhibition, 1965: Malcolm in Winter: A Translation Exercise, currently on view at White Cube Bermondsey from 7 February to 6 April 2025.

Theaster Gates A libation in Uncertain Times, 2024 (Photo: arti fiant)

This landmark exhibition spans the entire Bermondsey gallery and showcases Gates’s new archival responses, large-scale installations, and film works. Marking the centenary of Malcolm X’s birth and the 60th anniversary of his assassination, Gates pays tribute to Japanese journalist Ei Nagata and Haruhi Ishitani, who dedicated their lives to translating and preserving Malcolm X’s legacy.

The exhibition reflects Gates’s ongoing exploration of Blackness in Japan, a theme rooted in his pottery studies in Tokoname during the late 1990s. Recently acquiring the Nagata and Ishitani’s archive, Gates uses Japanese aesthetics to examine the global influence of Black Power movements, creating a compelling dialogue between cultural histories.

Our Co-Founder’s article, The Truth of ‘Blackness’ in Japan Pursued by Theaster Gates, provides an in-depth look at the exhibition, including interviews with Gates and the White Cube team. It highlights the historical connections between Japanese intellectuals and Black radicalism, while also exploring how Japanese design and philosophy have shaped Gates’s artistic practice. This exhibition underscores Gates’ commitment to the archive as a medium for preserving and reinterpreting Blackness.

Read the full article in Harper’s Bazaar Japan.

Our Co-Founder Contributes to Harper’s Bazaar Japan on Ceramic Brussels 2025

We are pleased to share that our co-founder has contributed an article to Harper’s Bazaar Japan, offering insights into Ceramic Brussels 2025. The article explores the fair’s expanding influence and how ceramics have evolved into a recognised and dynamic medium within contemporary art.

Photo: arti fiant

Below is a summary of the article, translated into English:

Now in its second edition, Ceramic Brussels has expanded in scale, bringing together 65 galleries from 15 countries, including Europe, North America, and Japan. With works by more than 200 artists exhibited between 22 and 26 January, the fair continues to establish itself as a key platform for contemporary ceramics.

During the fair, our co-founder had the opportunity to interview Gilles Parmentier and Jean-Marc Dimanche, the fair’s founders, who shared their insights on the global rise of ceramics. Parmentier emphasised that ceramics are now gaining worldwide attention and that this was the ideal time to bring the medium back into the international spotlight as contemporary art.

The article explores how ceramics have seen a significant shift in perception over the past decade. Once positioned outside the mainstream of contemporary art, ceramics have increasingly gained recognition for their conceptual depth, material versatility, and unique ability to challenge artistic conventions. The medium’s growing presence in galleries, museums, and major art fairs underscores this evolution, reflecting a broader movement that has expanded the boundaries of contemporary artistic practice.

As Ceramic Brussels continues to grow, it serves not only as a showcase for leading ceramic artists but also as a platform shaping the conversations that will define the future of the medium. The fair fosters artistic exchange and deeper engagement with ceramics as an evolving and vital force in contemporary art.

Read the full article in Harper’s Bazaar Japan.

Prompt

We are pleased to announce that we organise the first exhibition of Soejima Taihei in London.

His photographic works explore the intricate dance between technology and time, preposition and thought and narrative and sensation all captured through the lens of a traditional film camera.

Venue St Mary’s Primrose Hill (2 Elsworthy Road, London NW3 3DJ)

Date/Opening hours 20th April 10am-4pm & 21st April 12:30pm-4pm

This exhibition is an experimental programme for arti fiant to support Japanese artists in London regardless their medium.

This exhibition unveils a collection of fantastical landscape images of Mount Ararat, created by combining generative AI and classical silver halide film techniques. Mount Ararat, an actual volcano nestled in the Caucasus, is steeped in legend as the supposed landing site of Noah’s Ark. It is revered as a sacred place across various religions and ethnicities, making it a unique and compelling theme.

Through the innovative mixture of generative AI and silver halide film, this exhibition seeks to express the rich historical tapestry of the mountain. It portrays the delicate interplay between narrative and human connection, allowing the artworks to breathe life into the mountain’s significance. Viewers are invited to embark on a journey of exploration, delving into its role as a sacred site across various religions and ethnicities.

SOEJIMA Taihei (born 1992)

Born and raised in Tokyo, the artist has dedicated his career to the exploration of photographic media, seamlessly blending classical and digital techniques. His works are driven by profound interest in history and narrative, and are centred around the compelling theme: “What is the story necessary for a human to be human?” His unique interest and approach have shaped his distinctive style, making his works a captivating journey through physical and psychological lens. He completed a Master in Global Art Practice and a Bachelor in Sculpture degrees both from Tokyo University of Arts.

His recent exhibitions include “The Electricity (Group, Tokyo 2022)”, “IAG AWARDS 2021 EXHIBITION (Group, Tokyo 2021)” and “Sprout (Solo, Tokyo 2020).

This year, he has been awarded a fellowship by Pola Art Foundation.

(14 April 2024)

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afloat

Thank you for all visited and involved our exhibition “Flows“. There were quite a few great encounters during the period.

We are looking forward to seeing you all on the next exhibition.

(19 October 2021)

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FLOWS

arti fiant is delighted to announce Flows, an exhibition of contemporary Japanese ceramic arts from 4th to 17th Oct in the heart of Mayfair, London as a part of the London Asian Contemporary Art (LACA).

This exhibition focuses on ceramics that illustrate flows of time-honoured techniques, artists’ individual expressions and cycles of nature. The exquisitely elaborated works which will be exhibited emphasise the eternal cycle of renewal and evolution.

　Artists: Fukuoka Yuri, Ishida Kazuya and Maeta Akihiro

　Venue: Varana (14 Dover St, London W1S 4LW)

　Date: 4th - 16th Oct 2021 (Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00)

(05 September 2021)

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Mashiko – The New Generation of Contemporary Ceramic Artists

After the centenary of historic tipping point related to Hamada Shoji and Bernard Leach last year, there will be a great online event organised by Japan House London on 23 Feb.

Mashiko, one of the most significant places for Japanese ceramic art and where Hamada had made his studio, will be focused on the event.

(06 Feb 2021)

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Season's Greetings

Wishing you the very best for the restful festive season and a prosperous and peaceful 2021.

(25 Dec 2020)

Our Trip to Japan

During the lockdown period in the UK, we faced a quite hard situation as other people, businesses, and institutions did. Japan also confronted the difficulties at the same time. Our business partners there have been strongly affected by the economic turn-down.

We decided to venture on a trip to Japan to meet artists. We were sure it was vital to listen to their voice directly and talk about the future at this time. We chose two regions, Shigaraki and Bizen, from the six ancient kilns which are regarded as the most noteworthy long-established kilns in Japan.

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to collaborate with two artists during our trip. We are excited to introduce their works.

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Shigaraki

We went to Shigaraki at first. Shigaraki is a town deep in the mountains. The region the town located was famous for Ninja during the later medieval era.

We visited an artist-led studio which aims to create a new contemporary style of Shigaraki ware. In there, we could meet and talk with Fukuoka Yuri (Please click the link) and luckily with Ueda Yuji who is working with Kaikai KiKi Gallery led by Takashi Murakami.

Bizen

Our next destination was Bizen. The heartland of Bizen ware, renowned of its traditional unglazed style, is Imbe town.

We visited Ishida Kazuya’s studio (Please click the link). He is one of the most talented YBAs (Young Bizen Artists) who have collaborated with Oxford University to build an “Anagama“ kiln.

We also went to the YBAs exhibition in Tenmaya Gallery in Okayama.

(11 August 2020)

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