Meanwhile, in Japan | Katsuyo Aoki

July 19, 2011 7:38 PM

I feel I am able to express an - atmosphere- that is a part of the complex world in this age. Katsuyo Aoki was born in 1972 in Tokyo, JAPAN, he work principally with ceramics, incorporating various decorative styles, patterns, and symbolic forms.
posted by at the crossroads (10 comments total)

Those skulls are terrifying.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:40 PM on July 19, 2011

I love them. Delicate, morbid, porcelain talismans of death.

Also, until I clicked through to a full-size shot I figured these were a lot smaller. I'd love to see it in person.
posted by codacorolla at 7:57 PM on July 19, 2011

JAPAN
posted by AwkwardPause at 8:19 PM on July 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

Wow -- love the combination of old world aesthetic and new...everything else.

The technical skill also blows me away. As a sometimes potter, I find working with porcelain is like trying to reason with moody cream cheese.

Great link!
posted by pantarei70 at 8:20 PM on July 19, 2011 [4 favorites]

These are absolutely stunning.

I was going to say something about how tough porcelain is to work with, but "trying to reason with moody cream cheese" nails it so perfectly. It is not a cooperative medium. No.
posted by louche mustachio at 8:45 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

so beautiful
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:55 PM on July 19, 2011

Gorgeous, and incredibly amazing detail.

There's an occasional class in my area on Japanese porcelain techniques, taught by someone who studied in Japan. I've seen some student work from it -- while it certainly does not come close to this, it is clear to me that there is some sort of dark art involved in determining the proper incantations to chant at the moody cream cheese.
posted by yohko at 11:43 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Jim Woodring meets Motorhead
posted by not_on_display at 11:50 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wow. This manages a creepy baroque look that is still very subtle. I imagine a very wealthy lich having several of these pieces in his home.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 7:03 AM on July 20, 2011

Wow. This manages a creepy baroque look that is still very subtle. I imagine a very wealthy lich having several of these pieces in his home.

Precious Moments figurines in various states of tortured agony. Serving blood tea out of a fine porcelain human skull. A disemboweled corpse on the ceiling with his guts hanging out and the guts have been crocheted into a plant holder (and the plant is evil). _{A Kinkaide print on every wall...}
posted by codacorolla at 7:10 AM on July 20, 2011