Materiality in Progress

Materials become active collaborators rather than passive mediums in this thought-provoking spring exhibition. Materiality in Progress: Exploring New Materialism in Contemporary Art, on view through May 17 at Nina Johnson gallery in Little Haiti, showcases how artists engage with physical substances to create works that challenge conventional notions of materiality.

This exhibition, curated by Akari Endo Gaut, features works by an international roster of artists including Rando Aso, Ludmilla Balkis, Han Chiao, Yoshimitsu Ishihara, Genta Ishizuka, Osamu Matsuzaki, Yuka Mori, Shota Suzuki, Syotatsu and Jun Tsunoda—each engaging deeply with traditional artisanal practices. Through ceramics, lacquerware, metalwork and paintings created with traditional pigments, the artists highlight the expressive potential of materials in shaping both the form and meaning of their work.

The exhibition challenges conventional notions of materiality by emphasizing how artists engage with their mediums beyond physical characteristics. As Japanese artist Genta Ishizuka notes about his work with lacquerware, mastering the "grammar" of a material opens new possibilities for artistic expression rather than merely creating functional objects.

Visitors will experience how each material's unique properties—texture, weight, sound and function—contribute to the artwork's overall narrative.