Clara Spilliaert Japan / Belgium, b. 1993

The practice of Clara Spilliaert (b. 1993, Tokyo, JP) originated from her intimate diary drawings. They served as her instrument to cope with moving back and forth between Japan and Belgium at the age of sixteen. Since then, she has acquired two degrees at LUCA School of Arts in Ghent, in drawing and ceramics, respectively.

One source of inspiration for her work comes from her curiosity about the natural world. Animals, plants, human anatomy, and sexuality are among the motifs that sprawl and sprout across her works. Her observations on these topics mainly take shape in ceramic sculptures and reliefs, drawings, and site-specific installations. It is often in these installations and works made for public spaces that her interest in local histories becomes apparent, such as her fascination with religion, folkloric tales, mythology, and the symbols they employ.

Her works have been exhibited in several museums and art institutions, such as Museum Dr. Guislain, LLS Paleis, Kunsthal Extra City, and Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, as well as in solo presentations at Contemporary Art Foundation (Tokyo), Lichtekooi Artspace, and Kunsthal Gent. They can also be found in the collection of the Flemish Community at Mu.Zee and The National Bank of Belgium.