Aico Tsumori: Selected works, 2018-2024
People feel special emotions toward objects that resemble human forms. As a child, I was scared of a doll that sat in the corner of my room, but I pretended not to be afraid because I didn’t want the doll to know I was scared. The strange and complex emotions that arise from such situations fascinate me, which is why I continue to create works with faces.
In the past, my works often referenced ancient sculptures, Buddhist statues, and fairy tales. However, since 2019, I’ve been influenced by my daughter’s drawings, which inspired my “Ceramics from Children’s Drawings” series. This has led me to reference new and different images in my work.
When I create my pieces, they are solely mine, but once they are completed, they are handed over to the viewer. The viewer’s experiences and interpretations add to the work, perhaps even filling in things that are not explicitly depicted, resulting in new stories. I want to create as if I am painting a picture.
My daughter’s drawings series
This series began at the end of 2019. My daughter would bring home drawings from her nursery school every day. At first, her pictures were just scribbles, but over time, the forms became more defined. One day, she created a drawing that was so fascinating I felt a strong urge to turn it into a ceramic piece. The first work I made was called “Stylish Cat” in 2020.
That same year, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I held a solo exhibition in my hometown of Shigaraki, showing works from the Children’s Drawings series.
I intended to keep the first piece as a cherished possession, but the artist Yoshitomo Nara expressed his admiration for it, and it was added to his museum collection, N’s YARD. While the first piece was closely related to the original drawing, I gradually began incorporating my interpretations into subsequent works. It’s similar to how an original manga might evolve as it’s adapted into an anime, film, or live-action production.
As my daughter grows, her drawings change, each stage bringing its unique charm. These days, some of her drawings even reflect my artistic style, while my life has also influenced my works with her. New imagery and whimsical elements have entered my creations, suggesting a mutual exchange of inspiration between us.
Captions
- Cat Girl, 2024, clay, pigments, H42.5 W30 D23.5 cm.
Milky Way Eyes, 2024, clay, pigments, H26 W29 D22.5 cm.
C A T, 2024, clay, pigments, H22.5 W22 D23.3 cm. Photo credit: Imamura Yuji
Dandelion Eyes, 2023, clay, pigments, H44.7W26 D22.5 (left) cm and H40 W25.5 D22.5 cm (right)
Rabbit eyes, 2024, clay, pigments, H36.3 W22.5 D28 cm. Photo credit: Imamura Yuji
Girl, 2022, clay, pigments, H36 W27 D20 cm. Photo credit: Sugimoto kensei
Cat, 2023, clay, pigments, H28.5 W31 D34 cm. Photo credit: Sugimoto kensei
Hiten, 2021, clay, pigments, H26 W29 D14 cm.
Girl, 2021, clay, pigments, H25.5 W19.5 D12.2 cm.
Deer Girl, 2018, clay, pigments, H54 W34 D31.5 cm. Photo credit: Sugimoto kensei
Girl, 2022, clay, pigments, H22 W16 D14 cm.
Angel, 2024, clay, pigments, H35 W22.5 D21.5 cm.
Deer Girl, 2021, clay, pigments, H29 W16 D13 cm.
Cat Ninja, 2024, clay, pigments, H25 W14.5 H25 cm.
Butterfly Girl, 2024, clay, pigments, H32 W19.5 D28.5 cm. - Bread Cat, 2024, clay, pigments, H29.2 W19.5 D24.5 cm. Photo credit: Sugimoto kensei
Ice cream Mermaid, 2023, clay, pigments, H36.5 W30 D24cm
Mermaid, 2024, clay, pigments, H44 W32.5 D32 and H28.3 W15.5 D8 cm. Photo credit: Imamura Yuji
Cat teacher, 2020, clay, pigments, H38 W26 D15 cm.
Cat girl, 2022, clay, pigments, H27 W23 D13 cm. Photo credit: Taniya Coco
Unicorn Girl, 2020, clay, pigments, H45 W25 D19 cm.
