Here/Now: Contemporary Narrative and Form in the Yunomi Exhibition Catalog
"Here/Now: Contemporary Narrative and Form in the Yunomi" is a ceramic cup invitational, which consists of a small group of ceramic artists asked to construct a series of yunomi, utilitarian cups. The cylinder, being the root structure of most ceramic objects, leads to the yunomi, which can be playful and quickly made. The yunomi is a foundational form for most makers-inviting many options, directions, and intent. These are a range of contemporary vessel makers who are dedicated to rethinking traditional ideas. Using the cup as a launching point, this exhibition explores the historical ideal of the humble, anonymous Japanese potter juxtaposed with the American idealism of self-experience. Here/Now is guest-curated by Nikki Lewis and Katie Queen.
"Here/Now: Contemporary Narrative and Form in the Yunomi" is a ceramic cup invitational, which consists of a small group of ceramic artists asked to construct a series of yunomi, utilitarian cups. The cylinder, being the root structure of most ceramic objects, leads to the yunomi, which can be playful and quickly made. The yunomi is a foundational form for most makers-inviting many options, directions, and intent. These are a range of contemporary vessel makers who are dedicated to rethinking traditional ideas. Using the cup as a launching point, this exhibition explores the historical ideal of the humble, anonymous Japanese potter juxtaposed with the American idealism of self-experience. Here/Now is guest-curated by Nikki Lewis and Katie Queen.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Kevin Snipes
Kevin Snipes’ Yunomi are formally presented as individual cups, but within
each form there is a duality between characters. Each panel represents the
experience of a different person within the same story emphasizing otherness.
The work is meant to create a performance or poetic space with characters
and imagery that could be described as Magic Realism and derived from
Snipes’ memories, experiences, and ideas. Snipes’ vessels are hand-built with
slabs. He intentionally makes paneled sides of the vessels creating a
polyptych of sorts that are lifted with feet elevating the forms. Snipes carves
into the leather-hard surface of the clay, “tattooing” it like skin with dreamlike,
surreal imagery. While the work is still green, he applies colorful underglazes
and black oxide layering them with mishima and sgraffito techniques with his
scenarios.
There is an ambiguity of gender and ethnicity to the figures on the vessels, as he
leaves the interior flesh of the characters the color of the porcelain he used to
make the work. This allows a fluid exchange of authorship of narrative between
Snipes and the viewer. Snipes is interested in many ideas surrounding otherness
that encompass history, colonialism and patriarchy. Snipes ponders the possibility
of history being reversed. What if African descendants were the colonists who
conquered the world and described themselves as golden rather than black?
21
Change language