HF Vol. 21 artist Katsuyo Aoki is perhaps best known for her intricate, pure white porcelain skulls, covered here. Her latest sculptures are decorated with colorful designs, some of which are now on display in “The Colors of Globalization” at Bernardaud Foundation in Paris. It was Victorian England that kicked off the trade of blue and white porcelain originally. Aoki’s palette draws upon this time period, which dates back to 18th century designs that imitated Chinese porcelain. The skull takes on a new form in her new pieces, such as “Trolldom,” one her largest works to date measuring at 6ft tall. Here, she borrows inspiration from the Norse folk magic tradition of the same name, in a continuation of her mythical themes. The decorative style in which the piece is crafted alludes to that of a religious relic, while also making its macabre details more refined. Other new sculptures, such as her “Loom” trilogy, remove the skull motif completely in favor of abstracting the porcelain beyond recognition. As her title suggests, ornate forms weave in and out to shape a growing porcelain mass. While chaotic, there is also a feeling of romance, which remains a key element in Aoki’s art. Take a look at more of her recent sculptures below.
Every year in Niigata, Japan, artists take the leftover straw from their annual rice harvest and turn it into works of art. Called Wara art, or Rice-straw art, aspiring young artist Amy Goda has been creating such works since 2013. Her latest series featuring giant animals was completed last week and has already gone viral. Measuring 16 feet tall, they are her largest to date, fashioned after a roaring T-rex and tricerotops, and other animals like a coiled cobra, a crab clapping its claws, and even a rubber ducky.
Collage artist Sara Shakeel infuses our world with a surreal dose of glitter and diamonds. From bedazzling what some would call "imperfections" on the body to adding glitz to already-tempting fast-food item, the artist’s embellishments take on varying roles in her work. In a more direct statement: The Pakistani artist says that “each picture heals a part of me and i hope it heals a part of you too.”
London-based illustrator and artist