Shun Kumagai "Prayer" December 23 (Sat) - 26 (Tue) at Uehara Store!

From Saturday, December 23rd to Tuesday, December 26th, FOOD FOR THOUGHT Uehara will be holding the first solo exhibition by glass artist Shun Kumagai,“Prayer.”

Reservations are required for the first three slots until 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 23rd:

1. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
3. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

This time, we will be allocating a full hour for the first day's reservation slots and specially holding a "Chakai" (tea party/talk session) where Kumagai himself will talk about his works directly.

As it's a chakai, Kumagai himself will prepare delicious tea from his hometown Akita and perfect snacks to accompany it. Listen to him talk about his creative process and thoughts, ask questions, and deepen your knowledge. We were so moved by Kumagai's craftsmanship, and we decided to plan this event because we felt the only way to truly experience it more deeply was to hear him speak directly!

The format is yet to be determined, but it may proceed as a conversation with me, the shop owner Igarashi, or director Watanabe.

The idea is to spend 30 minutes on the talk and 30 minutes on shopping.

Mr. Kumagai is a very generous, intelligent, and wonderful creator. His stories are also very engaging. He will even choose the background music for the Chakai himself.

Reservation tickets will be available for purchase on our reservation ticket website (https://foodforthoughtshop.net/) starting Saturday, December 16th at 10:00 PM.

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Many people are captivated by Shun Kumagai's works, and I am one of them.

While various sake cups and plates, which were also popular at the "Bishukakou Exhibition," are wonderful, this time, being in the middle of the holiday season, he will be creating works with the theme of "Prayer," focusing on his series of statues that he calls "Kami-sama" (deities).

First of all, I want to emphasize that the statues Kumagai creates are not based on any specific religion or belief. We want them to exist as objects of "prayer" for each individual, with a hundred different interpretations. You can link them to faith, or you don't have to.

2023 has been a year with many emotionally stirring events, a year of high emotional volatility, hasn't it?

During this special holiday season, I want people to hold a work that can be a solace for their hearts. That's why I deliberately planned Kumagai's solo exhibition for this time of year.

Kumagai's works are made using the casting technique. Each piece is first crafted by hand using wax. A plaster mold is then made from it, and various colored glass, and sometimes ceramic clay, are cast into the mold to create the work. It's easy to write about, but it's an incredibly time-consuming process. The creation itself is reminiscent of an "ascetic practice," a precious endeavor infused with time.

For this exhibition, Kumagai declared that he would "create 100 pieces, imagining 100 Jizo statues." He set himself an immense goal, but I believe this number is truly important.

Since ancient times in Japan, there has been a custom of associating the number 100 with prayer, such as "Ohakudo Mairi" where one visits a shrine 100 times to pray for a wish, or "Hyakutai Jizo" where parents who have lost a child seek out a Jizo statue resembling their child from among a hundred to worship.

Though conceptual, I feel that by repeating something 100 times, it comes into focus, the direction narrows down, getting closer to the truth, and ambiguity takes shape. I feel this is how Kumagai's craftsmanship is refined.

In this exhibition, in addition to his standard statues, there will be small lidded containers, objects, masks, and even "glass wooden bears"! Kumagai's creativity knows no bounds.

This has been a long message, but this exhibition holds a special place in my heart as the owner.

I sincerely hope that as many customers as possible will have the opportunity to encounter Kumagai's works. Of course, each piece is one-of-a-kind. You will never encounter the same piece twice. It's the height of the Christmas season. As a gift, there is no more stylish choice. Truly.

Together with Kumagai and the staff, we eagerly await your visit.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Representative Takahiro Igarashi