Ceramic Totems – “Japan 1968” Exhibition

In December 2025, on the occasion of the exhibition “Japan 1968”, Retour De Voyage Gallery presents an original series of seven totemic sculptures created by Pierre Sgamma.

Ceramics conceived by Pierre Sgamma

Conceived as a coherent ensemble, this series reflects a desire to close the year on a joyful, free and slightly offbeat note, without abandoning the depth of the sculptural gesture.

Inspired by Japan-inflected imagery, shamanism, and a form of personal mythology, these ceramic statues fully embrace a playful dimension: covered with flowers, signs and colours, the totems open wide, round eyes onto the world.

Pierre Sgamma invents a personal mythology populated by benevolent guardians, floral spirits and deities that bring a smile. One moves from one figure to the next as if through a strange and joyful tale, where the sacred finally agrees not to take itself too seriously.

KuroHane, “the Totem of the threshold”

Kurohane is a work of strong character, immediately recognisable and deeply anchored in material presence.

Darker and more hieratic, it acts as a powerful marker within the series — a transitional piece designed to structure space and hold the gaze.

Its golden face recalls an ancient ritual mask, crossed by signs rather than features, giving the sculpture a rare symbolic dimension. The dense, vertical body subtly absorbs light, revealing a rich range of textures and tonal variations depending on the lighting. This direct relationship with the material reflects a confident mastery of the ceramic process.

Conceived as a figure of passage, Kurohane embodies a presence that is both powerful and benevolent, never heavy or intimidating. Closing the series with quiet authority and discreet humour, it stands as an ideal acquisition for collectors seeking a singular work capable of establishing a lasting dialogue with its environment.