Title: The Shadow of Sodeisha, Japanese and Irish Art in Clay. Exhibition. The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin. 2017-2018.
Abstract: ‘The Shadow of Sodeisha, Japanese and Irish Art in Clay’ exhibition examines creative links between Ireland and Japan in the year (2017) both countries celebrate their 60th anniversary of Diplomatic relations. The concept began in 2015 when Moore visited the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens, in Tramore, Co. Waterford and initiated a discussion with the Gardens Director, Ms. Agnes Aylward. This discussion focussed on creative connections, both historical and contemporary between Ireland and Japan. Pivotal to this research was the Cultural Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Ireland, Mr. Yuichi Yamada, who guided Moore through the (successful) Japan Foundation Grant application in 2016. Considering the role of Hearn as both a poet and writer based in Ireland and Japan, Moore then began to research creative links between Ireland and Japan closer to Ceramics. This led to an examination of the post WW2 artists Group ‘The Sodeisha’. Rejecting traditional and functional pottery as the only way to create in clay, the Sodeisha Group were the first group of Japanese artists to consider clay as a material to make abstract art. Such was their influence in general in ceramics and in particular in Ireland, Irish Artist Deidre McLoughlin spent three years in Japan to learn more about Sodiesha. This lay the foundation for the theme of ‘The Shadow of Sodeisha, Japanese and Irish Art in Clay’. Moore then contacted one of the leading contemporary ceramics maker and educator, in Japan Mr. Hiroaki Morino. Discussions followed with Mr. Morino and Mr. Mitsuo Shoji to develop a selection of artists (6) from Japan to be involved in the exhibition. The selection of Irish artists (6) was made by Dr Audrey Whitty, Keeper, Art & Industry (Head of Decorative Arts, Design & History) at the National Museum of Ireland. Rather than simply submitting work, the Irish Artists were invited to respond to the Louise Allison Cort article ‘Crawling Through the Mud: Avant-Garde Ceramics in Post War Japan’. The Exhibition was opened by Her Excellency Ms. Miyoshi, Ambassador of Japan in Ireland on March 30th 2017.A seminar series is programmed for October 2017, the Curators Tour occurred in May 2017 and the Dublin Culture Connects ‘Culture Club’ were hosted at the Sodeisha Exhibition by Dr. Whitty and M. Moore June 30th 2017. The ‘Shadow of Sodeisha, Japanese and Irish Art in Clay’ received external research funding from The Japan Foundation and The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. The Shadow of Sodeisha is the only themed exhibition to open at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks throughout 2017.
Publication Year: 2017
Publication Date: 2017-03-30
Language: en
Type: article
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