Koji Kamoji's Ascetic Sculptures at Zacheta National Gallery in Warsaw

The Zacheta National Gallery in Warsaw presents 'Silence and the Will to Live,' a retrospective of Japanese-born artist Koji Kamoji, running until August 26, 2018. Kamoji, born in Tokyo in 1935, moved to Poland in 1966 as a student at the Academy of Fine Arts and has lived there ever since, becoming a revered figure in the local art scene. The exhibition, curated by Maria Brewinska, features works from 1960 to the present, including paintings, drawings, and installations. Central to the show is the monumental installation 'Silence and the Will to Live,' which invites viewers to walk a silent path symbolizing the relationship between humanity and nature. Kamoji's work is characterized by meditative, introspective qualities rooted in Zen Buddhism, using humble materials like plywood, rocks, metal bars, aluminum, and paper to explore themes of existence, death, and solitude. The exhibition layout emphasizes the artist's evolution toward extreme simplification and essentiality, highlighting early works and 'spatial concepts' that investigate emptiness. Kamoji's practice reflects a lifelong commitment to art as a cognitive process, offering viewers spaces akin to chapels for deep spiritual engagement. The show is seen as a long-overdue recognition of an artist little known internationally.