mr clement is the artistic pseudonym for my work as a sculptor and painter.
My creative inspiration stems from a core philosophy: to look at the present world through the eyes of a child, by embracing my nostalgia for childhood. My childhood was my happiest time, a period of exploring a new and wondrous world, yet it was also a time of loneliness and fear of the unknown. It is this paradoxical blend of happiness and isolation that allows me to infuse my work with a playful and romantic tone. I love creating these paradoxes by giving my work new contexts and meanings.
The cartoon-like characters in my work embody my longing for childhood memories and my quest to understand the essence of happiness. My main character, Lapin, a rabbit with simple lines and a pure yet slightly lonely gaze, is the physical manifestation of this idea. His image is inspired by Japanese manga, yet it is infused with elements of Western design, giving him a universal appeal that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries.
I intentionally choose to work with toys and small to medium-sized sculptures. These are mediums and sizes closely connected to my own childhood. The dimensions of these works, much like the cherished items we had as children, allow me to experience and view them in a more intimate and personal way. Through this approach, I hope to help viewers reconnect with a sense of wonder and simplicity they may have forgotten, and to forge a unique emotional bond with the work.
I want my sculptures to communicate complex emotions purely through their form, without relying on captions or titles.
My inspirations often come from comics and popular culture, and occasionally from classical art. I enjoy using paradoxes in my work, or approaching my narrative sculptures and paintings through the lens of the Old Masters. I like finding subtle and interesting compositional elements in classical art, but expressing them in a more direct way, shaped by my own minimalist aesthetic and sense of humour. I have developed this approach because I feel it truly speaks to my core audience.
If my work can bring a little bit of joy to someone, or evoke a faint memory of childhood, that would be the most precious reward for me.
2025, Tokyo
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