You See a Sheep

Artist statement: “You See a Sheep is a lighting collection that uses hand-built ceramic shells to house the light source and thin metal wire to make the shells appear to be floating in space. A mysterious yet warm glow is revealed through the holes against the dry paper-like surface. The composition of multiple shells is made specific to an installation site. The arrangement, the colors, and the numbers are all determined considering the layout and the volume of the space the piece occupies.
The title You See A Sheep is inspired by two stories. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, where The Prince finds his favorite sheep in a drawing of a box. And Model T Frankenstein by Hideo Furukawa which opens with the line "You see a goat," suggesting that it is in our perception that the goat exists. I mix paper fiber in a wet clay body to achieve strong lightweight shells, using a coiling technique to emphasize the uneven surface and the irregular enclosed forms. Then, once the clay firms up, I cut out the holes. Next, I apply color clay to the surface and then finally fire them in an electric kiln.
This chandelier that you see with 24 ceramic shells was made for the group exhibition In Good Company held in Fernando Mastrangelo Studio | FM/S in New York in September 2018. I saw this exhibition as a celebration of art and design and an opportunity to build a supportive community of the designers and the users. So I designed this chandelier with some shells hanging low to the ground, others floating high, altogether creating a conical volume. It becomes an environment where people can walk through and physically engage with the installation.”

2018
Ceramic, steel cable, and electrical components
9 x 5 x 15 feet
Photography by Cary Whittier, Nico Schinco, Yuko Nishikawa

Photo credits: Installation photos, “Golf,” and “Oss-Cah” by Cary Whittier; “Al-Far,” “Mike, and “No-Vem-Bar” by Nico Schinco. All other photos by Yuko Nishikawa.

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Yuko Nishikawa is a Brooklyn-based Japanese designer/contemporary ceramicist specializing in fantastical lighting, whimsical decor accessories, and collectible objet d'art. She also runs “Salon at Forest,” a monthly gathering and conversation of creative minds. Nishikawa make objects and spaces drawing inspiration from ideas that we tend to think are normal and investigate and offer alternatives in a joyful way. She says, “I create functions and rules for imaginary places and objects and use these ideas to create physical forms in ceramics. My mission is accomplished when my work transforms a space into a fascinating encounter. Piku piku is a Japanese onomatopoeia that describes involuntary movements caused by unexpected contact. I want my work to make you feel piku piku, tickling something deep down inside you.” In 2018, she established “Yuko Nishikawa,” a design and art company specializing in sculptural lighting and installation. Online at: https://www.yukonishikawa.com/