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IN THE SHOWROOM WITH PUBLIC RECORD
Focusing on craft and its artistry, our Nodi showroom is incorporating works from talented makers to sit alongside our textural offerings.
For this season we have partnered with Yuka O’Shannessy, founder and director of Public Record gallery. Public Record represents both New Zealand and international makers who create work from raw materials and use processes that are specific to their practices. On display in our showroom is a painting by Robyn Penn, a Paper Lanterns by Isamu Noguchi, and ceramic works by Elena Renker sitting atop our Bamboo Silk & Wool Blend Rug in Brick.
Yuka's unique creative sensibility is shaped by her upbringing in Japan, where she was immersed in an environment that celebrates artisanal mastery.
We sat down with Yuka to learn more about her philosophy, the inspiration behind the artist's works on display at Nodi, and how she connects with nature.
What is the philosophy behind Public Record, and the artists you choose to work with?
The philosophy behind Public Record is that of timelessness and the transcendence of trends or seasonality. Alongside this sits my desire to create a place and space for international cultural exchange through arts and crafts.
By continually experimenting and developing the way I present our artist's work to our community I hope to contribute to new narratives and perceptions.
We work with artists and craftspeople who work with skill and honesty and have a unique sensibility. Based locally and internationally, a common thread between each artist is the tracing of roots and stamp of identity through their art.
What materials are you drawn to, and why?
Raw and natural materials that have been worked in a skilled way. These pieces often feel alive and draw me in.
I love work that gives me a sense of wonder about how it was made too - you could imagine what the maker is trying to do with the work. These silent conversations are great.
"Raw and natural materials often feel alive and draw me in."
What can you tell us about the inspiration behind Elena Renker's ceramic work?
This is our third show together and before creating the body of work, we talked about doing something different. She has a strong iconic look of dynamic Kurinuki forms; especially tea bowls. We thought that we could reference her tea bowls in larger form, stools or parts of furniture to assemble to make larger pieces; always working to the limited space of the kiln - like building blocks.
Based on her years of practice, her work is really her own. The presence of herself is inherent in each piece, she explained that she can’t make the same piece tomorrow; each piece is her in that moment. She uses a wood fired kiln that she built at her studio with another amazing potter, Duncan Shearer. This is the third kiln that she’s built. This firing also contributes to the uniqueness of each lot. She fires at 1300-1800 degrees over 18 hours and after cooling down the kiln for almost a week, finally opens the kiln – this is a significant time of anticipation for the potters and each piece is unique.
What can you tell us more about Robyn Penn’s painting? How was it made?
She captures the clouds in the sky by drawing on large sheets of Simili Japon paper with Indian Ink in her fluid and expressive style.
This artwork has toured from South Africa to France attending an Art fair and now on to New Zealand. Its beautiful thin frame is made with South African teak. This artwork is very versatile in situ and beams with energy. We think it will invite an audience to inhabit a world. It is concerned with the crisis of climate change, but in a muted, quiet yet unerring manner, it asks us to embrace unsettlement, to take it to heart.
Robyn Penn is an award winning artist, originally from South Africa, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions and art fairs both locally and internationally from Europe to the States.
What can you tell us about Isamu Noguchi and his paper lanterns?
Noguchi grew up in both America and Japan and has traveled extensively throughout his life, gathering knowledge from craft masters all over the world. He stumbled across traditional paper lantern makers in Gifu in 1951 after a serendipitous meeting with a maker, and felt he found an art form that can live in people’s homes. He went on to create his modern interpretation of this old craft designing a phenomenal range of over 200 styles of lamps. Seventy years on these are still one of worlds most in demand products and are adored internationally.
We have visited the factory in Japan, and have met the makers. They craft this product by hand, one by one, so it’s always hard to keep up with demand. When you see his work in person, you can see why it’s so popular. You can experience these pieces at Public Record, too.
What colours and textures do you like to live with?
Tranquil, calm and dark tones. I like a mix of natural and inorganic materials - just like the 'mono-ha’ movement in Asia.
How do you connect with nature in your downtime?
I enjoy wandering in nature to gaze at the forms, and being present enough to stop and think.
Being in nature gives me a sense of calm, and I find it very inspiring. We are lucky in New Zealand to be surrounded by so many beautiful natural spaces.
Featured products:
Bamboo Silk Rug in Brick
Credits:
Yuka O’Shannessy Public Record
Photography:
Yasmine Ganley