Haruka Miyanaga gives lecture on her exhibition featuring knitting. By SETH CHRISTMUS
The ceramics studio at Clemson University recently hosted an exhibition of works by Haruka Miyanaga, an assistant ceramics professor at the Kanazawa College of Art. Professor Miyanaga has been at Clemson since Aug. 24 and will be here until Oct.7, conducting creative and American contemporary artists research. Her work has also been featured in solo exhibitions across Japan and in international competitions throughout Asia.
Professor Miyanaga gave a three-part lecture on Sept. 19 about the development of her work, important aspects of her work and some of her recent exhibitions. Professor Valerie Zimany, an assistant art professor at Clemson University, translated the lecture.
Zimany also attended the Kanazawa College of Art and was a classmate of Miyanaga’s. This relationship was a factor in Professor Miyanaga’s decision to hold an exhibition at Clemson.
“Working as full-time faculty at a college, I have less time to focus on my personal work and research, so the invitation to produce work and hold a solo show at Clemson was very attractive,” Miyanaga said on her choice to host an exhibit in Clemson. “Also I hope the relationship between myself and Valerie, which began when we were classmates over ten years ago, can also be deepened into continuing exchanges with Clemson University and Kanazawa College of Art,” Miyanaga said.
Miyanaga’s exhibition ended on Sept. 21 and was part of a series entitled “FEITICO,” which she has been working on for a number of years.
“The work in this exhibition is made by transforming knitting to ceramic[s],” Miyanaga said. “Through the act of knitting, meaning is built into the various objects, and the final works give the impression of a physical manifestation of inori or a protective form or invocation. Now that the exhibition has come to an end, I will spend my remaining time investigating the relationship between my research interests and contemporary American ceramics. In Japan, much of my focus is on work for my university and educating our students, so I feel fortunate for this time.”
“Miyanaga was very humble when talking about her work; parallel to her process as knitting is also a very humble process that is usually connected with a home craft rather than finery. Since she didn’t speak English, it made for an interesting lecture, but I appreciated the variety in culture for art on campus,” Rebecca Beaird, a fine arts major said.
Professor Zimany echoed Miyanaga’s sentiments, saying, “The Department of Art is fortunate to be able to host Haruka Miyanaga for an extended period.
Having spent seven years abroad myself as a student, artist and researcher through a variety of programs, I am a strong advocate for international exchange.”
Miyanaga’s visit to Clemson will also have a direct impact on ceramics students in the Department of Art.
“The advantage of such an extended visit is two-fold,”
Zimany said. “First, the students are able to view and examine the artist’s actual work in person, rather than digital images in a lecture alone. [Second], they have the ability to observe his or her professional practices — from working in the studio together daily to installing an exhibition.”
Haruka Miyanga’s stay has been a benefit to both the Department of Art and the University at large. Her visit may lead to future collaborations with foreign artists and professors.
“[Her stay] lays the groundwork for future exchange and collaborations,” Zimany said. “Personal contact with visiting faculty from another country like Haruka can be a life-changing event. Not only does it encourage students to think outside of their immediate surroundings, it offers them a real life connection in the world at large. Should they develop the desire to study abroad, there is someone out there they could potentially contact.”
For more information on Clemson Ceramics, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clemson-U-Ceramics/117229858339056
For more information on the Department of Art, visit: http://www.clemson.edu/caah/art/
