簡介
THE SHOPHOUSE is pleased to present Form Follows Failure, a new body of ceramic works by Kansai Noguchi.
In ceramics, perfection is often the pursuit: controlled firing, balanced proportion, immaculate glaze. Works that warp, crack, or fracture are typically discarded. The broken piece is rarely considered complete.
Kansai Noguchi approaches this expectation from the opposite direction.
“I have kept only the pieces that broke in an interesting way,” he writes.
Creating something new inevitably involves risk. These works hold the imprint of attempts, experiments, and challenges. Failure, in Noguchi's ceramic practice, becomes a process of making.
Beyond repair, the exhibition also marks a series of new formal explorations. A group of lime-glaze chawans introduces a surface and tonality not previously central to Noguchi's practice. Their presence reflects a willingness to move beyond established aesthetics, allowing material and glaze to behave with greater unpredictability.
For Kansai, failure is not defeat—it is the form.
Kansai Noguchi (b. 1982, Fukuoka, Japan) began his career as a professional musician in 2009 before moving to the United States in 2013. In 2014, an encounter with the work of Isamu Noguchi marked a turning point, bringing his music career to a close and leading him toward the field of sculpture. In 2015, he studied sculpture under an established sculptor and began creating ceramics as a self-taught artist.
His recent activities include the solo exhibition at KANEGAE, Japan (2023); Ex Terra at THE SHOPHOUSE, Hong Kong (2024); and in 2025, a tea ceremony at Fujita Museum and a two-person exhibition with Mendes Wood DM in New York and Germantown. He has also participated in major art fairs including ART FAIR TOKYO (2024, 2025), Art Collaboration Kyoto (2024, 2025), and Art Basel Hong Kong (2026).
製作／參與人員
