Kenze Yamada(山田憲司) Artworks for Sale

Concept

The floor appears to have multiple colors though the material Igusa is single-colored, because the angles of the tatami mat mesh are set differently creating a variety of reflections. This makes the design look different when viewed from the opposite side. My work is unique in that it is set on the floor, and that it involves the effect of sunlight. The sunlight creates subtle changes of color, whereas artificial lighting from the ceiling limits such change and thus diminishes the work’s attractiveness. I consider my work as an antithesis of the modern trend of art which requires immense energy such as projection mapping. My personal belief is that art can be sustainably appreciated without consuming excessive energy, and the concept of my art can be described as “praise of shades and wabi-sabi” (wabi-sabi=Japanese aesthetics to prize refined simplicity). The rough sketch is drawn with simple lines, and the material Igusa is single-colored. This simplicity represents the flatness of Japanese Painting, other typical drawing methods including Manga, and even the social hierarchy of the country. Tatami mat itself is an original and unique material that is still rare and globally unrecognized, making it truly symbolic of Japan.

Concept

The floor appears to have multiple colors though the material Igusa is single-colored, because the angles of the tatami mat mesh are set differently creating a variety of reflections. This makes the design look different when viewed from the opposite side.

My work is unique in that it is set on...

The floor appears to have multiple colors though the material Igusa is single-colored, because the angles of the tatami mat mesh are set differently creating a variety of reflections. This makes the design look different when viewed from the opposite side.

My work is unique in that it is set on the floor, and that it involves the effect of sunlight. The sunlight creates subtle changes of color, whereas artificial lighting from the ceiling limits such change and thus diminishes the work’s attractiveness. I consider my work as an antithesis of the modern trend of art which requires immense energy such as projection mapping. My personal belief is that art can be sustainably appreciated without consuming excessive energy, and the concept of my art can be described as “praise of shades and wabi-sabi” (wabi-sabi=Japanese aesthetics to prize refined simplicity).

The rough sketch is drawn with simple lines, and the material Igusa is single-colored. This simplicity represents the flatness of Japanese Painting, other typical drawing methods including Manga, and even the social hierarchy of the country. Tatami mat itself is an original and unique material that is still rare and globally unrecognized, making it truly symbolic of Japan.

Medium

Biography

Kenji Yamada chose to study architecture in university and worked for an architectural firm regardless of the fact that he was born as the son and heir of a tatami mat shop with a history of over 100 years. He refused to inherit his family business because he saw little hope for the future of a decl...

Kenji Yamada chose to study architecture in university and worked for an architectural firm regardless of the fact that he was born as the son and heir of a tatami mat shop with a history of over 100 years. He refused to inherit his family business because he saw little hope for the future of a declining industry.

However, in 2017, he discovered new potentials of this material when he casually made irregular tatami crafts. Shortly after, he started his career as a tatami artist and developed a production method of free-curved tatami mats, which was said to be impossible at that time.
After he was certified as “Meister of Tatami” by Hashima City in 2019, he became inundated with TV and magazine interviews in and out of Japan. He provided his “Art Tatami” for a temporary tea ceremony room 3 times in local events. In 2020, he delivered his “Dragon Tatami” to a museum in Hashima as well.

His clients are mainly long-established hot spring inns, temples, and other individuals, and he has provided them with approximately 30 works within 3 years.
In 2020, he held a solo exhibition purely on tatami at a gallery in Tokyo and a co-hosted exhibition in Aichi prefecture.

His main focus used to be on geometric patterns, but recently he has been working on figurative designs such as dragons.

Kenze Yamada

山田憲司

Share this Artist?

Concept

Concept

Comming soon

Medium

Biography

Artists you might like