YUSUKE YAMAMOTO
The Dappled Garden
YUSUKE YAMAMOTO
Foreword
We are delighted to present Yusuke Yamamoto’s first solo exhibition with The Scottish Gallery; an exceptional silversmith whose creations embody a harmonious blend of precision, narrative, and natural inspiration.
Born in Kanagawa, Japan, and now residing in the Llyn Peninsula of North Wales, Yamamoto crafts sculptural vessels that reflect a deep connection to the natural world. His pieces are informed by everyday observations, capturing the subtle movements of leaves, the rhythm of wind, and the textures of the landscape around him. In The Dappled Garden, Yamamoto celebrates the emergence of spring; the relief following winter and welcome signs of change. From the early daffodil and unfurling leaves, to the peony and abundant rose garden; all flow on the surface, reminiscent of the spring garden that so generously inspires his work.
Yamamoto’s journey in metalwork began at Musashino Art University in Tokyo. His practice quickly evolved from steel to silver which
was influenced by the master silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki. Further inspiration came from the Scottish based, world class engraver Malcolm Appleby, which lead Yamamoto to the UK, where he became an artist-in-residence at the Glasgow School of Art in 2012. Since then, he has continued to develop his distinctive style, combining traditional Japanese techniques with British influences.
Each of Yamamoto’s pieces begins as a flat sheet of Britannia silver, which he meticulously raises and shapes using hammering techniques. He then employs chasing, using handmade steel punches to create intricate surface textures that evoke the natural elements he observes daily. This process results in works that are both technically masterful and deeply expressive, capturing the essence of his surroundings in silver. Yamamoto’s pieces not only showcase exceptional skill but also invite viewers to engage with the subtle beauty of the natural world.
THE SCOTTISH GALLERY
The Dappled Garden
My journey to becoming a silversmith has followed an unusual path. I graduated from Musashino Art University in Tokyo in 2004 with a degree in metalworking, then worked as a workshop assistant and researcher in the Department of Industrial, Interior and Craft Design until 2010. But it was during my time assisting Hiroshi Suzuki from 2010 to 2012 that I first discovered the real potential of chasing silver. That experience led me to shift from blacksmithing to silversmithing – a decision that changed the direction of my life.
In 2012, I was invited by Anna Gordon at the Glasgow School of Art to take up a research position. I remained there for several years as an Artist in Residence, Teaching Assistant, and Visiting Lecturer. In 2015, I was fortunate to undertake a five-day internship with Malcolm Appleby in Perthshire through the Goldsmiths’ Company. His way of thinking inspired me deeply and gave me the belief that I could make
a life as a fulltime silversmith here in the UK. The following year, I moved to rural north-west Wales, where I now live and work.
What draws me to silver is its unique white beauty – subtle, luminous, and always responsive. The chasing process reveals this quality in intricate detail. Patterns and textures that I create with the hammer stand out vividly on silver’s surface, allowing for a real sense of movement and atmosphere.
My work always begins with daily observations – the shifting light, the scent of a damp forest, the rustle of leaves, a hedgerow marked by sheep paths. These impressions settle in my mind and eventually become sketches, often composed of small, gathered patterns. I sketch twice: first on paper, then directly on the silver surface with pen and pencil. These guide my chasing. It is a meditative process –tapping away, absorbed in a world that slowly emerges through repetition.
Living in Wales gives me constant inspiration. It’s a landscape that feels close to my childhood in Japan – quiet, textured, rich with natural rhythm. The quietness of the countryside helps me to focus, and the isolation means I can make as much noise as I like while I work. Walking around my neighbourhood is a vital part of my creative routine – it feeds directly into my making.
I’ve been lucky to learn from important mentors. Hiroshi Suzuki helped me understand chasing at a high level and showed me the life of a silversmith in Japan. Malcolm Appleby, too, had a major influence. His outlook convinced me that I could support myself through my practice – that conviction is still with me.
I feel particularly connected to artists like Vincent van Gogh, especially his 1887 works in Paris when he explored pointillism. Pieces like Undergrowth or Trees and Undergrowth express the joy and power of nature through small marks – dots and dashes that capture light and life. This speaks directly to what I try to do with silver: to create that same effect with thousands of tiny hammer marks.
One of the most important works I’ve made is the Dappled Garden Dish, now in the collection of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. It was my first major piece and a way to introduce myself to the silver community in Britain. It reflects both my technical skill and artistic direction. More recently, my Polaris Vessel, acquired by the V&A, is a piece full of personal meaning. I made it to mark the birth of my first child at the end of 2019. Inspired by the North Star – a guiding light for travellers – it is a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
YUSUKE YAMAMOTO
1/ Dappled Garden - Rose Vase, 2024
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, nunome inlay with 24ct gold foil
H32 x Ø27.5 cm
2/ Dappled Garden - Peony Vase, 2023
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H28 x Ø23 cm
3/ Soughing Wood Vase, 2020
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H20 x Ø15 cm
4/
hammer-raised and chased
H45 x Ø17 cm
Undergrowth Vase, 2023
Britannia silver 958, nunome inlay with 24ct gold foil
H32 x Ø17 cm
5/ Dappled Garden - Daffodils Vase, 2022
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
6/ Dappled Garden - Four Sided Beaker, 2022
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H10 x Ø10.2 cm
7/ Undergrowth Beaker, 2023
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H8.8 x Ø8.5 cm
H10.5 x Ø8.8 cm
8/ Octagram Beaker, 2023
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, nunome inlay with 24ct gold foil
9/ Polaris Vessel, 2020
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, nunome inlay with 24ct gold foil
H14.5 x Ø17 cm
10/ Craggy Mountain Bowl, 2020
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H15 x Ø26 cm
11/ Nuts Box, 2023
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H4.5 x Ø4.5 cm
12/ Acorn, 2024
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H3 x Ø2.2 cm
13/ Skimmia Box, 2023
hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958
H2.7 x W6.4 x D4.7 cm
YUSUKE YAMAMOTO (b.1979)
Yusuke Yamamoto graduated from Musashino Art University in 2004 and now exhibits and sells his award winning hammer-raised and chased pieces worldwide, with work featuring in prestigious public collections in the UK.
Education
2000-2004 BA Industrial, Interior & Craft Design, Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan
SElEctEd ExhibitionS
2024 Goldsmiths’ Fair, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London designs under my feet, Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin 2023 Goldsmiths’ Fair, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London
Form & Facets, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
2022 Goldsmiths’ Fair, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London
Colloquy, Makers Guild Wales Gallery at Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
Colloquy, Mary E. Black Gallery, Canada
Collect 2022, Somerset House, London
2021 Pinning our Hopes, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
On The Table, Oxford Ceramics Gallery, Oxford
Goldsmiths’ Fair, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London
Collect 2021, online, Ruthin Craft Centre
2020, A Japanese Design, The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh
Aelwyd exhibition, Makers Guild Wales Gallery at Craft in the Bay, Cardiff
awardS and MEMbErShipS
2021 Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Awards, Silver award in the 3D Silversmiths Design, United Kingdom
2019 Hammer Club Exhibition 2019, 4th prize, European Silversmiths Forum Dundee, United Kingdom
2018 Schoonhoven Silver Award, Shortlist, Schoonhoven, Holland
2016 18th Silver Triennale international, Shortlist, Hanau, Germany
public collEctionS
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
National Museum Wales
The Clothworkers’ Company, London
The Goldsmiths’ Company, London
New College, Oxford
Published by The Scottish Gallery to coincide with the exhibition:
Yusuke Yamamoto
The Dappled Garden
31 July - 30 August 2025
Exhibition can be viewed online at: scottish-gallery.co.uk/yusukeyamamoto
ISBN: 978-1-917803-03-8
Designed and Produced by The Scottish Gallery
Printed by Pure Print
Photography by Stephen Heaton and Alex Robson
Front cover: 3/ Soughing Wood Vase (detail), 2020, hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, H20 x Ø15 cm
Inside front cover: 5/ Dappled Garden - Daffodils Vase, 2022, hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, H32 x Ø17 cm
Inside back cover: 8/ Octagram Beaker (detail), 2023, hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, nunome inlay with 24ct gold foil, H10.5 x Ø8.8 cm
Back cover: 4/ Undergrowth Vase, 2023, hammer-raised and chased Britannia silver 958, nunome inlay with 24ct gold foil, H45 x Ø17 cm
All rights reserved. No part of this catalogue may be reproduced in any form by print, photocopy or by any other means, without the permission of the copyright holders.
