“I enjoy the freedom of shaping clay directly with my hands… creating shapes that express spontaneity,” says Yu Maeda. Based near Tokyo, the artist began experimenting with ceramics after a career focused on painting, when he began transforming animals and imaginary creatures into vibrant, airy sculptures.
Maeda is influenced by the bold lines and graphic iconography of pop art, combining abstract shapes and traditional Japanese imagery into eclectic works. Skulls, birds and other creatures suggest a sacred or spiritual dimension.
The artist’s totemic pieces combine ideas related to ecosystems, nature’s cycles and geometry, including timeless motifs such as botanical elements, insects and the sun. As if recently unearthed with their bright pigments intact, his sculptures are a nod to ancient cultures, our reverence for nature, and our dependence on other animals and the environment to not only survive but thrive.
Discover more work, including the artist’s paintings, at Instagram.
