Kamae Kazumi

Kamae Kazumi was born and lives in Shiga Prefecture. Since 1985, she has produced art works as a member of Atelier Yamanami, a welfare facility (run by Social Welfare Corporation Yamanami-kai) in Koka, Shiga Prefecture. With its audacious human form and its engraved pattern of rounded lines, this work exudes a raw power reminiscent of dogu clay figurines, Jomon earthenware and other primitive molded objects. Nowadays Kamae is mainly known for a style she adopted in 2009, which involves attaching many rice-like clay balls to a foundation. As such, the work on display here provides a valuable insight into her early-period work.