Yohei Nishimura — Unique work, 2017

Technique: Mixed media on ceramics
Dimensions: 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm (without base)
Total height: 44.5 cm with custom-made bronze base
Signature: Signed and dated on the back (painted signature)

Description

This unique work by Yohei Nishimura , created in 2017, embodies the poetic power of transformed matter. Worked using mixed media on a ceramic slab with rich and subtle asperities, it is distinguished by its mineral textures and muted tones – shades of ochre, grey, green and blue – evoking the slow wear of time and the silent memory of objects.

The plaque itself appears to be made from recycled materials , a recurring approach in Nishimura's work. On its back, engraved letters are visible, possibly original industrial markings, silent traces of a former life now repurposed by the artist. The painted signature and date appear discreetly on the reverse.

The work is mounted on a custom-made bronze base , which emphasizes its sculptural character and reinforces its verticality, in the manner of an archaeological artifact or a fragment of wall found.

About the artist: Yohei Nishimura

Born in Japan in 1947, Yohei Nishimura is internationally renowned for his radical work with ceramics and materials. Trained at Kyoto City University of Arts , he has developed a body of work at the intersection of sculpture, painting, and installation, with a particular interest in ordinary materials, often found in oblivion or discarded. His practice is rooted in an aesthetic akin to Japanese wabi-sabi , where imperfection and the marks of time become sources of beauty.

He taught at the Tokyo University of the Arts and exhibited in numerous international institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.