Mizuiro Workshop is delighted to present “In the Name of Love, Courage & Hope”, a solo exhibition by Taiwanese artist YANG Zong-Jia (b.1992, Taiwan).

 

Over the years the concept of "Magic Girl" from Japanese animation that any ordinary girl/person can "transform" by the aid of magic power to have courage and strength to overcome difficulties has been the inspiration to many fragile hearts. And YANG Zong-Jia was not an exception.

 

The title of the exhibition derives from Japanese magical animation “Akazukin Chacha,” YANG mentions that “This animation has accompanied me throughout my childhood. Because there are also male characters I was allowed to watch it.” In “Akazukin Chacha,” love, courage and hope are the 3 elements of the protagonists’ magical spell for them to launch transformation.

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In this new solo exhibition, the artist conveys his emotions of love, courage and hope within a series of new works that explore different possibility of twisted clay and porcelain combining various media such as textile, epoxy, stone and so on.

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"Ceramics, like everything else,

                                       is constantly changing."

 

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All YANG’s works start from mixing and twisting clay / porcelain of different colors (known as twisted technique) with the intention of forming a kind of uncertainty. The twisted clay and porcelain, after fired in high temperature, often results in cracking on the plastic body. Instead of mending the cracks, YANG takes the opportunity to turn them into meaningful marks by employing Japanese traditional Kintsugi as a response to philosopher Gilles Deleuze's 'Becoming.’ 

 

While change can be viewed as the essence of ceramics, the artist s also realizes that his perspectives is shifted throughout his artistic journey - what was considered flaws and wounds, both artistically and personally, can now be regarded treasurable marks of significant growing experiences.

 

“In the Name of Love, Courage & Hope” will be on view at Mizuiro Workshop from 7 May to 12 June 2022.