The Henry Art Gallery has been experimenting with artists in an continual exploration and reassessment of its collections. The institution, historically, has grown primarily through gifts over its nearly 80-year existence. This time the Henry has invited professor of art Akio Takamori to design an installation responding to these holdings. Associate Professor of Ceramics at the University of Washington, Takamori has developed a practice of figural sculpture in the tradition of Northwest Magical Realism which combines clay, traditional Asian calligraphy, Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, and contemporary photography.

Each half of Takamori's two-part installation features new sculptures based on the characters of Kanzan and Jittoku (the Laughing Monks) sharing the space with artworks from the Henry collections. These archetypal figures have been a favorite subject in Chinese and Japanese painting since the 13th century. Even as a child, Takamori saw these paintings and had always been attracted to these characters, a poet-recluse and a temple dishwasher. They are traditionally depicted with ragged clothing and tangled hair, grimacing or laughing wildly. They are thought to embody the spirit of Zen freedom and spontaneity.

One gallery focuses on ceramic vessels, featuring Onta ware and pots by Kanjiro Kawai alongside vessels from other countries. Accompanying the vessels is a seated pair of monks, using  the vessels. It is recommended to drop down to the eye level of the sake pots and look at the monks. You are transported into a Zen sake tea party. In the other gallery, two standing monks look at works on paper - pictures of children including works by Nan Goldin, James McNeill Whistler, Edward Weston, and Helen Levitt. When asked about the connection a between this subject matter and his sculptures, Takamori replied:

"Like the monks, these can be works simultaneously charming or cute, and scary. The Nan Goldin photograph is not easy to look at, and I knew that in choosing this work, and also others in the exhibition. When young kids are playing Barbies, or GI Joes, or whatever they pretend and become those characters. The doll becomes a stand-in for the child. I am hoping that visitors to this exhibition will allow themselves to step into the characters of Kanzan and Jittoku, and imagine how they might experience these works of art. I have created this particular environment for the monks, and I would like for viewers to experience how they perceive the world."

In another innovation, The Henry Art Gallery has released a series of ArtCasts Art Radio Seattle teamed up with the Henry Art Gallery to teach them how to create their own podcasts. Here is the first Henry ArtCast with Chief Curator Elizabeth Brown and Artist Akio Takamori with Betsey Brock, Communications and Outreach Manager for the Henry, about his exhibit in a podcast entitled "Drinking Sake and Celebrating the Universe - a conversation."

Hear the Art Radio Special Here


Or Hear it from The Henry Web Site


Also on the Henry web site;
Here is Curator Eugenie Tsai as she tours Threshold: Byron Kim 1990-2004 also up at the Henry Art Gallery.


This exhibition is one of an occasional series where contemporary artists explore the resources of the Henry Art Gallery collections. At the same time it complements the artist's mid-career survey at the Tacoma Art Museum, Between Clouds of Memory: the Ceramic Art of Akio Takamori, which runs until October 8, 2006.
Akio Takamori: The Laughing Monks is organized by Chief Curator Elizabeth Brown. Exhibition design concept by Akio Takamori. Generously supported by ArtsFund, PONCHO, and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, City of Seattle.