With her diverse oeuvre, Leiko Ikemura has created a rich cultural universe that mediates between Western and Asian culture; it includes not only paintings, watercolours and drawings, but also sculptures made of ceramic, bronze and glass. The artist gained international renown primarily through her sculptural works. Ikemura's seemingly archaic hybrid creatures oscillate between human, animal and plant forms. Her figures suggest childlike or feminine shapes and have a very distinctive physiognomy, evoking moments of inner reflection and movement. At times, they give an impression of vulnerability and pain, then again of happiness and reverie. This publication documents Ikemura's first solo exhibition in the UK. Numerous new texts situate the artist in a broad, transnational perspective and elaborate on her special, mystical cosmos of images. AUTHOR: Simon Kaner MA Cantab, PhD (2004) is an archaeologist specialising in the prehistory of Japan. As well as being Executive Director since 2018, he is Head of the Centre for Archaeology and Heritage at the Sainsbury Institute. Simon is also Director of the Centre for Japanese Studies and Chair of the Japan Country Dialogue Group at the University of East Anglia. SELLING POINTS: . Comprehensive insight into Ikemura's diverse cosmos of images . Unique synthesis of Western and Asian culture . Focusing on Ikemura's group of figures Usagi Kannon 195 colour, 29 b/w illustrations
