Ross + Kramer is pleased to present En Iwamura’s fifth solo exhibition with the gallery, entitled Yama-Asobi,  opening February 15, 2024 at the gallery’s Miami Beach location. 

The exhibition includes 40 new ceramic sculptures and 8 works on paper. Yama-Asobi—meaning “play in the  mountain” in Japanese—expands upon Iwamura’s “Neo-Jomon: Mountain Fantôme” series, first exhibited at  Ross + Kramer East Hampton in 2020. Throughout Iwamura’s practice, the term “Neo-Jomon”, which he coined  to title his ceramic works that feature raked striations on the surface of the clay, has evolved into somewhat of  a taxonomic classification. To achieve these intricate surfaces, the artist allows his hand-built forms to air dry  slightly before drawing various tools across the surface of the clay. The resulting rake-like patterns recall Buddhist  Zen gardens as well as the cord-marked pottery that characterizes Jōmon culture—the earliest major culture of  prehistoric Japan. 

Originating in Iwamura’s birthplace of Kyoto, Japan, Buddhist Zen gardens and concepts related to their construction  and care inform much of the artist’s work. When describing the placement and scale of his works, Iwamura  references the Japanese philosophy of “Ma”. Ma alludes to concepts such as a pause in time, an interval, or an  emptiness of space. While it is commonly used in reference to physical spatial relationships between objects, Ma  does not rely solely on physical components. Rather, the philosophy is primarily concerned with one’s perception  of such space. It’s said that individuals constantly measure and interpret different Ma in relation to themselves  and other people, places, and objects. Finding the proper, or comfortable Ma can incite unique emotions and  allow for the formation of new connections and relationships within a given moment. Through his site-responsive  installations, Iwamura intends to provide viewers with the opportunity to recognize Ma themselves, within both  their physical and mental landscapes.