A Salty Aftertaste
Motoi Yamamoto became fascinated with salt after his sister died of a brain tumor. Armed with a rubber squeeze bottle instead of a brush, he sat on the floor and pumped out a labyrinth that resembled the passageways of the brain. Perhaps it wasn’t his intention to uncover a new medium, but anyone who’s experienced his work can count the phases of his mourning, his unique trail of tears, in the grains of white marching across a space.
I first experienced this gifted Japanese artist several years ago, was lucky enough to be able to hang around the installation and watch him work. Sitting cross-legged on the floor. Bent over his creation. Pulling his vision out of the stark platform floor. It was muscular and angular, a proper maze of wonder.
This year, Yamamoto is back in Charleston creating an installation for the Spoleto Festival at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. What surprised me most, as I leaned over the railing of the viewing platform, is how lacy, how feminine, his work has become. His typhoon is a fanciful piece of tatting, strung across the floor; his movements are quick and certain – the same – but with a new, curly flourish. Perhaps the salt has softened his edges and cleansed him of his grief. Like the white-capped waves that accept the salt when he returns it to the sea.
Wow! That is incredible! Thanks so much for sharing the work of this fascinating artist.
I’m looking forward to checking out more of his works.
He is really interesting. The link to an article in the Huffington Post shows a slideshow of his work.
Wow, thanks for sharing. As an artist, it is really true that your emotions and moods reflect your pieces. I guess that’s what makes art so mysterious sometimes because some of the pieces touch your inner soul just by looking at them.
I often pick those out of a group. It is really cool when the artist says I found a favorite.
What an interesting and unique medium! I am always intrigued by experimental art. Sometimes it works for me, other times, not as much, but I still respect the artist’s process. I think if I knew the backstory on this artist I would even find the art more compelling, so thank you for sharing what you know. And what a great thing to have been able to watch him work! Thank you, for an inspirational prelude to the weekend, Andra! Enjoy! Debra
He is perfect for an installation at the LACMA. Really engrossing to watch him work.
Really interesting, thanks for intro
Enjoy, Linda.
Interesting art and sad, interesting back story.
I must confess, however, that my first thought on seeing your photo, and before reading, was that the lovely new stainless steel “love appliance” had oopsed all over your kitchen floor!
Ha!! In person, it really looks like a lacy hurricane cloud.
Title made me smirk. Article made me smile. I need to get down there and take a look at that. How long did it take him to do that installation? Seems that it would take forever – a serious labor of love, which it obviously is.
Carnell, you are always in the gutter!
Takes one to know one!!
Ha! Why would you say that?
He is still working on it, and the gallery is open if you want to watch.
Would that be the “peanut gallery”? Perfect for me.
Beautiful…it reminds me of the white brine at the edge of the ocean, or of this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tsunami_by_hokusai_19th_century.jpg.
Surely he will do something in London sometime. With your love of labyrinths, I know you would enjoy his work up close.
It is so interesting looking at one artist’s work through the eyes of another artist. Lovely.
Thank you, Lori. I still don’t consider myself an artist, but I suppose that’s what I am.
Meditation does not always take the form of sitting still, listening to one’s breath. What a wonderful way to be still.
He is compelling to watch if you have time to stop by in the next few days.
I would like to do that.
How VERY cool. Can that be preserved forever, or is part of the point the fact that salt water trails, like tears, eventually fade?
They are installations that are returned to the sea at the end.
Rather like mandalas.
Yes. Very much so.
What amazing work! I’m nearly stunned wordless by this art. And I had never heard of Yamamoto before. Thanks so much for this introduction. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Kathy
The Huff Post pictures are quite something, Kathy.
Gorgeous description, Andra! And such an interesting medium! More and more, I have come to appreciate art as I get older- I am fascinated by the creativity and process- I love how you translated the artist’s pain and inspiration here…
so amazing…
That is an interesting story… and beautiful work. You were lucky to see his progression… perhaps, he his grief has abated and he is finding his sister again.
Your post made think… once many years ago, some Tibetan Monks came to our island and spent 3 days making a beautiful mural of colored sand. Very intricate. It was something to see, and watch them create. What was really funny, was they wore watches on their wrists… kind of didn’t jive with their robes. When they were finished, they took the mural to the beach and poured it into the ocean.
Wow, what an interesting work! This is my first encounter with Yamamoto but that is some very cool stuff.
I’m always really excited when he pops around. He’s been part of an exhibit at P.S. 1 up your way.