The Presence of “Yakimono” Curated by CIBONE
MAY 1 THU - 22 THU, 2025
at The Fridge
[Reception Detail]
Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: The Fridge, 11 East 78th Street, 4th Floor
We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition in collaboration with THE FRIDGE, featuring the works of Japanese artists and sculptors Ryota Akiyama and U-Turn Ushiro, both based in Mashiko, a historic ceramic town in Tochigi Prefecture, located in the Kanto region of Honshu, Japan.
THE FRIDGE:
The Fridge showcases both emerging and established artists from Japan and around the world. The project originated in Tokyo five years ago and has since gained recognition for its dynamic programming.
Early 2023, the project relocated to New York. The Fridge's primary goal is to promote artists and creatives from different parts of the world while providing an immersive and personal experience for its visitors.
@thefridge.art
Ryota Akiyama:
Working from Mashiko, Ryota Akiyama explores the relationship between materiality and history. Through research and experimentation, he filters traditional techniques and concepts through a contemporary lens, reimagining their significance and function. His practice fosters new relationships between objects, people, and space—where the process itself becomes a key part of his artistic expression.
@ryotaakiyama01
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U-Turn Ushiro:
A former rescue worker with the local fire department, Ushiro discovered ceramics through hands-on experience. In 2021, he constructed his own underground anagama kiln in the mountains of Mashiko. Working with clay and stones he digs himself, Ushiro fires his pieces with wood, focusing on the elemental presence of fire—its light, sound, transformation, and decay. His practice revolves around the primal act of creation through flame.
@ushilaska