Aesthetics of Tranquility. A Conversation with Kimiaki Kageyama

Among many pieces of jewelry, there are a few that look to unfold a part of the secret of why people wear jewelry. For me, Kimiaki Kageyama’s jewelry is one of these works. His realistically made plants and use of urushi lacquer fragments from an old portable shrine remind me of fundamental affection for something ephemeral as well as human desire for eternity – both are primary sentiments people project onto jewelry in general. Furthermore, his work indicates that the real significance of being timeless lies not in the object’s immortality but in its ability to stir up sympathy within the viewer from any period of time. This interview is based on two conversations I had with Kimiaki Kageyama to take a glimpse at his background and attitude toward jewelry.