Atelier Yamanami, Shiga: Viewing the art of the mentally disabled

At a young age I learned that I do not have the propensity for art. To my five-year-old self, brown was brown, and the darker bits were just areas where I should colour harder. Perhaps it is these parts of art that confounded me. My inability to see the purple tones in the shadows of tree trunks and the blues in the darker parts of tree leaves. The rules that bind my perception of the world were, and still are, far too rigid. This is perhaps what intrigues me about the art gallery tour at Atelier Yamanami (やまなみ工房 Yamanami Kōbō).

Atelier Yamanami circa 1986 (Image credit: Atelier Yamanami)

Atelier Yamanami offers a guided tour of the facility where you can view their art gallery for ￥1,000 by reservation. On the tour, you can visit each of the different departments specializing in different mediums as well as interact with the patrons. Located in Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県 Shiga-ken), east of Kyoto, Atelier Yamanami has operated as a facility for the mentally disabled since 1986. People with depression, autism, or other disabilities can exercise outdoors, work on art or are given small jobs to do such as collecting recycling or maintenance work. In that time, some of the patrons displayed incredible artistic skills and some of these artworks were put on display in the facility’s art gallery.

Gallery Gufguf (ギャラリーぐふぐふ)　(Image credit: Atelier Yamanami)

It is in the incredible variety of art styles, mediums, and colours that I am truly amazed by the artwork at Atelier Yamanami. Some of the pieces evoke aspects of cubism, pointillism, and modernism in art. Although the exhibit houses numerous artworks, today I will focus on two.

Sakanaさかな (Image credit: Mitsui Keigo)

Take for example, Mitsui Keigo’s piece titled: Sakana (さかな). The abstract shapes clearly used to represent fish scales but each one a different colour, reminding the viewer of the rainbow-like shimmer of light reflecting off fresh fish. The right-most fish has a clearly visible wound which stands out clearly because it is the only mark on the page that cuts across the scales, which makes you wonder if it was put there purposefully with some sort of meaning. 

Mr. Masato’s Guitarまさとさんのギター (Image credit: Kamae Kazumi)

Here in Kamae Kazumi’s artwork titled: Mr. Masato’s Guitar (まさとさんのギター Masato-san no Gitā) we can see the use of rice-sized pellets of clay to grant her representation of a guitar an almost organic shape. The injection of the artist and her personal life into the art is also fascinating as we are introduced to a titular character, Mr. Masato. 

Cafe hughug (Image credit: Seki Yoshie)

Certainly, there are more things to do at Atelier Yamanami after your exhibit tour. Available from 10 am to 4 pm, the café/restaurant offers a very reasonably priced lunch set, drinks, and a few sweets for a delightful afternoon meal. The facility also has a gift shop selling some of the artwork, embroidered goods, and printed t-shirts as well as a live concert hall. All the shops are staffed by helpers and the mentally disabled and all the proceeds help to support the facility. 

Even the signage at Atelier Yamanami is artistic (Image credit: Haruka Lee)

Atelier Yamanami is a place that I wish were replicated more and I support it wholeheartedly. It is a space that allows the mentally disabled a means to support their own passions, the world a glimpse into their perspectives and it enriches not only lives of the mentally disabled but the lives of everyone who is connected to it. To see the art of people who are unhindered by common preconceptions, it is inspiring to see the work of talented and creative people made reality. Seeing art made through a completely fresh set of eyes is both fascinating and often beautiful.

Atelier Yamanami (やまなみ工房)
Address: 872 Kazuraki, Konan-cho, Koka-shi, Shiga 520-3321
Nearest station: Konan Station (甲南駅)
Opening hours (galleries): 10:30am–3pm
Tel: +81 748-86-0334

Header image credit: Atelier Yamanami

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