“Akamine Cycle 2015 Frame Collection / Sketch and Object”Manabu Akamine

Jul.31 - Aug.5, 2015

　Manabu Akamine is Okinawa based ceramic artist and cyclist, and creates many works in the motif of bicycle.
　He has a unique history as a ceramicist. In his childhood, he bought a bicycle for the first time with the money that he had saved working in delivering newspapers. He had experienced a cycle race when he was in a middle school. Furthermore, he was scouted by The National Sports Festival of Japan in 1987 as an athlete of young cyclist development, and received a road bike from Okinawa prefecture and participated in an intensive training when he was a high school student.
　After he graduated from Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Akamine became independent as a ceramicist. However, he never loses his enthusiasm for bicycle. During a work break, he always does maintenance of three bicycles: Gary Fisher, BALFA, CHERUBIM. He kept thinking on bicycles night and day. Finally he began to make clay works in the shape of bicycle without realizing, that led to him starting “Akamine Cycle”.
　The soft colors and rounded contours are reminiscent of living creatures. On the other hand, lot numbers are allocated for each work as homage to industrial products.
　At Sokyo Gallery, we will be introducing the works based on two different themes. “Frame Collection” is Akamine’s long standing theme which has been focusing on bicycle frame, and “Sketch and Objects” is a new series of porcelain plates with a sketch of bicycles.
　“Akamine Cycle” is not confined to ceramic art, but also receives remarkable attention from cycle industry. In November 2015, Akamine will collaborate with The Tour de Okinawa, the largest international cycle race in Japan. Trophies made by him will be given for the winners in three sections of the international road race: Champion Road Race, Women’s Road Race, and Junior Road Race.
　Please come and see the exhibition if you are in or near Kyoto.

Installation View