Skulls are no longer reserved for childhood nightmares of things that go bump in the night (Anna Wintour). In the past five years or so, the skull image has been popping up in prints, jewelry, accessories, and most recently in the art world. Katsuyo Aoki, has found a way to take an iconic image previously associated with the rock and roll or gothic aesthetic, to the level of high style and elegance.
Aoki fashions the haunting sculptures out of fine porcelain, bringing a whimsicality and sophistication to the subject matter. The works speak to the idea of the beauty in inherent in both life and death, and the transience of both. I am not saying that I would want a porcelain skull if I were (god forbid) to get in a car accident, but I wouldn’t mind one as a smart conversation piece on my ebony wood mantle.
