MOMOKO USAMI

OUR AMERICA/WHOSE AMERICA?

2022 | Ferrin Contemporary | North Adams, MA

Our America/Whose America? Is a “call and response” exhibition between contemporary artists and historic ceramic objects. View the historic collection here.

Momoko Usami, “Rock of Anger (Insurrection)”, 2022, porcelain, 11.5 x 11.5 x 1.5″, image courtesy of John Polak

Momoko Usami, “Rock of Anger (Insurrection)”, 2022, porcelain, 11.5 x 11.5 x 1.5″, image courtesy of John Polak

Momoko Usami

“Rock of Anger (Insurrection)”
2022
porcelain
11.5 x 11.5 x 1.5″

Momoko Usami, “Rock of Anger (Consequences)”, 2022, porcelain, 11.25 x 11.15 x 1.5″, image courtesy of John Polak

Momoko Usami, “Rock of Anger (Consequences)”, 2022, porcelain, 11.25 x 11.15 x 1.5″, image courtesy of John Polak

Momoko Usami

“Rock of Anger (Consequences)”
2022
porcelain
11.25 x 11.15 x 1.5″

Vision and Time are the two unspoken agreements to share the world you live. At the same time, they are very obscure and ambiguous. They are affected by his or her own background, memory,
preference, or a feeling, colors, and temperature at the moment. Therefore, images in the real world
are always fluid and beguiled; there is no frame and no ending. I attempt to express my interest in
how people choose their own view. Real world images are full of temporal beauty and interest.

My work deals with eternal touchable materials such as clay, metal, and resin, or fragile images such as light, shadow and reflection. I use everyday phenomena as some of the important elements
because it endows everyone fairly and it makes my work personable. I attempt to grasp a wobble
and nonsense in the real world, and to make people uncover fresh views even in the mundane,
in their everyday life. My interest in real life makes us think about observing the world carefully.

Now more than ever, artists have a responsibility in society to document what’s happening in the
world to pass it on to future generations, and to help heal broken hearts with curiosity and beauty.

— Momoko Usami