The Photography and Sculptures of Mari Katayama
Mari Katayama’s photography uses her own body as one of her materials. Born with a rare congenital disorder, the artist had her legs amputated as a child, and at times, her sculptural work emulates the features of her body that the condition caused. The resulting work explores identity, anxiety, and other topics.
“Her belief is that tracing herself connects with other people and her everyday life can be also connected with the society and the world, just like the patchwork made with threads and a needle by stitching borders,” a statement says. “In addition to her art creation, Katayama leads ‘High heel project’ in which she wore customized high-heeled shoes specially made for prosthesis to perform on stage as a singer, model, or keynote speaker. The motto of this project is to take advantage of any means including art and disabled body if it helps to expand the ‘freedom of choice’ for those in desperate need.”
Young photographer Kevin Welsh explores the dark turns the mind can take with his recent body of work, which focuses on the theme of delusion. In his latest pieces, Welsh turns still photographs into hypnotizing GIFs filled with dizzying patterns meant to illustrate obsessions spinning out of control. "In isolation, the mind can move and believe many different things. Delusions manifest and become inescapable," wrote Welsh in an email to Hi-Fructose. "The removal of the figure is to show the idea of a person and to try to find understanding in delusion. Repeat patterns are seemingly never ending and are used to display the reaffirmation in our minds of the delusions we face." Welsh is currently completing his degree in printmaking at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and we look forward to seeing how his work develops.
Luo Li Rong’s figurative sculptures evoke movement and intrigue, whether it’s the artist’s feminine, graceful figures or her otherworldly creatures. The China-born, Belgium-based artist has received several high honors, including commissions for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. A statement talks about the varied influences of the sculptor.
Jess Riva Cooper explores themes of reclamation and transformation in her ceramic sculptures where nature overwhelms and takes over her subjects. Particularly inspired by invasive plant species, the Toronto based artist, featured here on our blog, uses clay to express her fascination with chaos erupting into order.
Stockholm-based artist Joakim Ojanen crafts pastel-colored characters that seem to be varying ages at the same time, while playing with perspective. He accomplishes this in both 2D and 3D, using oil portraits and stoneware sculptures to bring his visions to life. Above, one towering character is given even stranger depth in bronze.