FENAMENA of CLAY

FENAMENA of Clay are not finished objects. They are quiet traces, subtle signs that someone was once there.
This work moves gently between people and space, language and material, absence and presence. It takes shape as a “formless reply,” guided by the movement of the hands. Sometimes we feel something that isn’t visible, like a shift in temperature, the trace of someone’s presence, or fragments of memory. “FENAMENA” refers to these moments that drift between sensation and existence.
Through a quiet dialogue between my hands and the clay, I give form to what cannot be seen. Words like lukewarmtrembling, or glowing inspire the shapes that emerge. These forms go beyond function or explanation. They are responses to feeling. They have no clear edges, yet they softly say, “I am here.” Each piece holds a memory, a presence, a quiet conversation with time and space.

FENAMENA by Art Beasties
From July 12-August 2, 2025, KOBO Gallery in Seattle is featuring Japanese art collective Art Beasties and their latest collaborative work titled, FENAMENA, in our gallery space in Japantown and online. Founded in New York in 2013, the members are based internationally in New York, Seattle, London, Kobe, and Tokyo.

Installation view Photo: Paul Komada
Installation view Photo: Paul Komada
Installation View Photo: Paul Komada
Installation View Photo: Paul Komada
Installation View Photo: Paul Komada
Mountain, 2025  3.8 x 7.3 x 2.4 inches 9.7 x 18.6 x 6cm Porcelain 
Mountain 2, 2025 .2 x 6.50 x 2 inches 8 x 16.5 x 3.5cm Porcelain 
Mountain 3, 2025  Porcelain  7.1 × 2 × 2.8 inches 18 x 5 x 7 cm 
Twist, 2025  2 x 6.30 x 2.1 inches.5 x 16 x 5.4cm Porcelain 
Up, 2025  5.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inches. 13 x 13 x 13cm Porcelain 
Aura, 2025 4.9 x 2.2 x 1.4 inches12.5 x 5.5 x 3.5cm Porcelain 
Double, 2025 5.5 x 2.2 x 2.2 inches.14 x 5.7 x 5.7cm Porcelain 
Loop, 2025 2.4 x 3.7 x 2.436 inches.6 x 9.5 x 6cm Porcelain
Interlocking 2 2.2 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches. 5.7 x 6 x 6 cm Porcelain
Interlocking 2, 2025 1.8 x 2 x 2 inches 4.6x5x5cm Porcelain
Square-based Pyramid, 2025 2.2 x 3.9 x 2.2 inches 5.5 x 9.9 x 5.5cm 
Polyhedral Clay, 2025  1 3 x 2.4 x 2 inches 7.5 x 6 x 5cm Porcelain 
Polyhedral Clay 2, 2025  1.4 x 2.4 x 2 inches 3.5 x 6 x 5cm Porcelain 
Polyhedral Clay 3, 2025  1.8 x 3.58 x 0.98 inches 4.5 x 9 x 2.3cm Porcelain 
Polyhedral Clay 4, 2025  1.4 x 3.2 x 1.4 inches 3.5 x 8 x 3.5cm Porcelain 
Inside/out, 2025  Porcelain  2.4 × 1.2 × 3.7 inches 6 x 3 x 9.5cm
Rock, 2025 Porcelain, Underglaze, Glaze 2.8 × 2.8 × 2.1 inches 7 x 7 x 5.2cm
Petals, 2025  Porcelain, Cobalt Oxide and Glaze 7.5 × 7.9 × 0.8 inches 19 x 20 x 2cm