Uchiyama Chiaki

Uchiyama Chiaki was born in Nagano Prefecture. He created art works while a member of Kaze-no-Kobo, a welfare facility (run by Social Welfare Corporation Karigane Fukushikai) in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture. Uchiyama had a hearing impediment and he had never learnt sign language, so he had difficulties expressing himself when he first moved to Kaze-no-Kobo. He then began working with clay, with this activity fermenting a new sense of mental composure. His works often featured flower decorations attached to a corset-shaped base modelled on the female form. He created around 300 works over the course of 5 to 6 years. After mastering sign language, though, he left the facility and is said to have never created again.