David Umemoto Art
Canadian, b. 1975
The concrete works of David Umemoto stand as studies about volume. At the juncture of sculpture and architecture, these miniature pieces evoke temporary buildings or monuments standing on far-away lands. The images conveyed in the mind by these works are numerous. They refer to the archaic and the ephemeral, despite the solidity and the modernity of the medium. Appearing before our eyes are pre-Columbian rock dwellings, god statues from the Andes or Easter Island, steles deteriorated by rain, remnants of modern cities having survived a cataclysm, fragments of Babylonian cities, colonial settlements brought down to their foundations, cenotaphs abandoned in the jungle…
The production of David Umemoto’s works follows a process of slow and silent transformation. The creative process seeks to imitate the cycles of nature, which are cycles of erosion and re-creation. Lines shift, change and are in a state of perpetual mutation due to the influence of time and weather. The natural architectures of geological strata and crystals stand as models: They inspire the design of the moulds in which the concrete is cast. The ductile and infinitely adaptive nature of the material enables the production of objects that are both similar and different. The development of the works is thoughtful and iterative yet it makes room for improvisation, adaptation, and spontaneous inspiration. The shapes created by Umemoto line up in sequences of combinatorial variations. Each work offers a different face but these faces all belong to the same lineage. This kinship gives a strong unity to Umemoto’s production and allows for the exploration of the theme of transformation through time and tradition.
All of Umemoto’s pieces are handmade, in order to respect an economy of means. The pressure of modernity imposes on man the obligation to evolve constantly, which leads him into an endless race towards technological improvement. As an artist, Umemoto chooses to react by taking a step backwards. His manual activities result from a desire to simplify artistic practice. Aesthetics and formalism are thus combined with a commitment to plainness. Opting for a low-tech stance, the artist wants to resist the demands of progress. He creates structured and modular pieces but these never perfectly fit together, a result of their willingly imperfect mode of production.
Umemoto’s art is rooted in Americanness: His varied creations take their impetus from a desire to start settlements and to colonize wild lands, where nature is always on the verge of resuming its rights. When one sees Umemoto’s architecture sculptures, one thinks of the modernist complex of Brasilia by Niemeyer, lost in the Amazonian jungle, or of the complex of Chandigarh by Le Corbusier, in the heart of India. The walls rising towards nowhere, the curves running into ceilings, and the staircases leading into the void are reminiscent of the mysterious Prisons of Piranesi. One way or another, these are always works where imagination joins forces with a contemplative discipline.to
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Artist: David Umemoto
Citadel No.4 Concrete Sculpture, Contemporary, Unframed, 18x11 in
By David Umemoto
Located in Montreal, Quebec
David Umemoto transforms concrete structures into fantastical worlds by reinterpreting recognizable architectural forms. Staircases, archways, corridors, and ramps are miniaturized, ...
Category
2010s Contemporary David Umemoto Art
Materials
Concrete
Cityblock Level 1-6 Concrete Sculpture, Contemporary, 2010s, Unframed
By David Umemoto
Located in Montreal, Quebec
The concrete works of David Umemoto stand as studies about volume. At the juncture of sculpture and architecture, these miniature pieces evoke temporary buildings or monuments standi...
Category
2010s Contemporary David Umemoto Art
Materials
Concrete
Citadel No.1 Concrete Sculpture, Contemporary, Unframed, 18x17 in
By David Umemoto
Located in Montreal, Quebec
David Umemoto transforms concrete structures into fantastical worlds by reinterpreting recognizable architectural forms. Staircases, archways, corridors, and ramps are miniaturized, ...
Category
2010s Contemporary David Umemoto Art
Materials
Concrete
Citadel No.2 Concrete Sculpture, Contemporary, Unframed, 18x17 in
By David Umemoto
Located in Montreal, Quebec
David Umemoto transforms concrete structures into fantastical worlds by reinterpreting recognizable architectural forms. Staircases, archways, corridors, and ramps are miniaturized, ...
Category
2010s Contemporary David Umemoto Art
Materials
Concrete
Sacred Place Concrete Sculpture, Contemporary, 2010s, 12x11 in
By David Umemoto
Located in Montreal, Quebec
The concrete works of David Umemoto stand as studies about volume. At the juncture of sculpture and architecture, these miniature pieces evoke temporary buildings or monuments standi...
Category
2010s Contemporary David Umemoto Art
Materials
Concrete
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David Umemoto art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic David Umemoto art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by David Umemoto in cast stone, concrete, stone and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large David Umemoto art, so small editions measuring 3 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Karine Giboulo, Karine Payette, and Philippe Pallafray. David Umemoto art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $120 and tops out at $5,000, while the average work can sell for $1,500.