TOMOYA SAKAI

The driving force behind Sakai’s ceramic works lies in his attempt to understand the essence of human existence by exploring the universal yet deeply personal concept of “identity.” Identity, a concept describing how a personality integrated by the self interacts with society and culture, is central to his artistic practice, closely intertwined with the theme of “memory.”
Sakai perceives memory as a composition of human “experiences and personality” and the “worldview” that shapes one’s perception of reality. He considers memory a key factor in the intricate process of identity formation. Through his work, Sakai delves into these memories to uncover the essence of human existence. His signature series has abstractly embodied the “memories of individuals, others, eras, faith, and life itself” using clay and wheel-throwing techniques.