UPCOMING EXHIBITION

Eiji Uematsu

” Where the sprouts come from ”

November 5 (Wed) - December 14 (Sun), 2025
 

Gallery 38 is pleased to present "Where the sprouts come from" a solo exhibition by Eiji Uematsu. Born in Hyogo in 1949, Uematsu began by creating reliefs in the early 1970s to understand the properties of different clays. Over approximately 53 years, he has continued creating works through dialogue with clay, moving his practice between various locations. He currently works in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. He describes his practice: "Before expression, there is time spent engaging with the clay." Listening to the inherent power of the clay itself, he works day by day alongside the changing seasons of Iga.

The exhibition title "Where the sprouts come from" is drawn from the title of Uematsu's work featured in this exhibition. As the gallery enters its tenth year this autumn, this title - evoking the moment when life quietly sprouts from the earth - symbolizes both the workings of nature that he has continued to observe and the time accumulated between gallery and artist. Uematsu's works retain the traces of flowing mud, cracks and distortions inscribed through firing, and the inherent textures of the materials. Unbound by technique or concept, his creative approach of responding to what the clay communicates is embodied in his works. He says, "Rather than showing my own expression, I want people to notice the beauty that soil possesses, the essential things within nature." Through forms he has drawn up from the soil, Uematsu presents the value of landscapes we overlook in daily life and the flow of immensely long spans of time.

Those of us living in cities have almost entirely lost opportunities to touch soil. When we look up at the night sky, we cannot see the stars, and even the changing of seasons has become difficult to perceive. The profound resonance of Uematsu's work in recent years is not unrelated to these conditions of contemporary life. Moon, Stars, Soil, Fire the manifestations of nature beyond human wisdom that Uematsu repeatedly invokes. In contrast, our daily lives change at a dizzying pace, and the distance from nature continues to widen. In days dominated by efficiency and speed, haven't we lost sight of something important? His works seem to pose this question quietly.

Uematsu describes his current position as "vaguely in the middle of a walk." Walking slowly without a fixed destination - the is attitude may be what we need to reclaim now. Sensing the moonlight, confirming the texture of soil beneath our feet, touching with our hands. Uematsu's works remind us of the power held by such simple acts.

Gallery 38 has walked alongside Eiji Uematsu since its opening in 2016. This exhibition marks his eighth solo show at the gallery. We have continued to present Uematsu's work both domestically and internationally. Encounters at exhibitions are once-in-a-lifetime moments. The dialogues exchanged and relationship in this space continue to hold irreplaceable meaning for both artist and gallery.

We invite you to experience the works of Eiji Uematsu, who continues to engage honestly with soil.

Biography

1949 Born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture
1972 Began creating reliefs to explore the qualities of clay.
1975 Moved to Shigaraki, working at a pottery factory while continuing independent production.
1982 Relocated residence and studio to Marubashira, Iga City, building a kiln combining wood and kerosene firing.
Expanded his practice to include pit firing.
1996 Invited to create work at The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga Prefecture.
1980s‒ Numerous solo and group exhibitions.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2024 Uematsu Eiji - Earth and Fire (Yanagihara Yoshitada Memorial Museum of Art, Mie Prefectural Art Museum)
Toy Box (Trine Gallery, Tokyo)
2022 Constellation (Gallery 38, Tokyo)
Spring Earth (Shibunkaku, Kyoto)
2020 Earth and Fire (The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo)
Shooting Stars Found in the Garden (Art Court Gallery, Osaka) 2020 During a Walk (Gallery 38, Tokyo)
2019 Within a Walk (Gallery Yuu-ei, Osaka)
2018 SHISEIDO WINDOW GALLERY Chapter <Earth> 2018 (SHISEIDO THE STORE, Tokyo)
2016 The Sky the Rabbit Saw (Kyoto City University of Arts Gallery @KCUA, Kyoto)
In the Water Lies the Depth of the Forest (Gallery 38, Tokyo)
2009 Earth and Fire̶To the Origin (Koumi Kogen Museum of Art, Nagano)
2007 Uematsu Eiji Ceramics Exhibition̶Forms of Earth (Itami City Museum of Craft, Hyogo)

Selected Group Exhibitions

2022 Fragments of Homo Faber̶The Future of People and Making (Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum)
2018 Uematsu Eiji and Matsui Shiro (ACG Villa Kyoto, Kyoto)
2016 Innovation in Craft̶"Tradition and Avant-garde," and the Present (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Crafts Gallery)
2015 10th Paramita Ceramic Art Award Exhibition (Paramita Museum, Mie)
2010 BIWAKO BIENNALE 2010 (Shiga)
1994 Kyoto Outdoor Ceramics Exhibition '94 (Umekoji Park, Kyoto)
1992 International Invitational Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition (National Museum of History, Taipei)
1986 Earth̶Image and Form 1981-1985 (Seibu Hall, Shiga / Yurakucho Art Forum, Tokyo)
1986 1st International Ceramics Competition Mino '86 (Gifu)
Ceramic Annex Shigaraki (Shigaraki Traditional Industry Hall / The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga Gallery)
1985 '85 Hinuma̶Landscape of Earth (Hinuma Miyamae-so, Ibaraki)
1984 Shigaraki Exhibition (Shigaraki Traditional Industry Hall, Shiga)
1981 Art Now Iga '81 (Ueno City Central Community Center Hall / Kino Gallery, Iga-Ueno, Mie)

Exhibition Details

Eiji Uematsu
“ Where the sprouts come from “

Date: November 5 (Wed) - December 14 (Sun), 2025
Open: 12:00 - 19:00
Closed on Mon, Tue, and National Holidays

⚫︎The artist is scheduled to be present at the gallery on November 5th (Wed) and 6th (Thu), (times TBD).
Details will be announced here.
⚫︎November 7th (Fri) - 9th (Sun): The gallery will be open from 10:00-19:00 for Art Week Tokyo.