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Beyond from era to era.

An era begins long before we are born,
and continues beyond us into the future.
Metal, a material that changes its shape and form over time, has been used in a variety of things,
It has been used for a variety of things.
With my own eyes and hands, I explore the possibilities of metal materials,
I pursue contemporary expression that transcends from era to era.

 

Kodai Suga’s work features an evocative modernistic silhouette that has been imbued with dramatic contrasts of colour within Suga’s unique style of patina, encapsulating the artist’s wish to achieve and evoke an ancient, or perhaps unforeseen beauty that is both distant, far away, and beyond the horizons of human consciousness. Using bronze casting techniques to create his forms from moulds created from plaster or clay, Suga then takes various chemical compounds such as chlorides, sulfides, sulfates and carbonates and applies them to the surfaces of his bronzes in self-taught improvision, thereby bringing out the green patina that naturally forms on copper and bronzes, often referred to as Verdigris. In particular, chlorides are the element that bring out Suga’s vivid greens and blues in a chemical reaction with the base metal, and it is the spontaneous changing in colours that Suga tries to embrace and wield to poignant effect. These techniques differ greatly from traditional Japanese patination, and this is purely intentional, for Suga believes that the traditional Japanese techniques will hinder his ability to create expressions unique to his state of mind. Instead, such traditions may shackle his creativity and bind him to preconceived notions of what metal must be. Instead, Suga tries to find natural expressions within metal that are ultimately far more contemporary in feel and ambiance, thereby allowing the artist to fully express the aesthetic landscapes within himself.

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