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Traditional Works

Tradition: A Shifting Paradigm in Pottery Production

 
 

In the rich tapestry of Japanese aesthetic sensibilities, tradition has long served as a spiritual and normative compass, guiding artistic expression. Yet, tradition is not a static entity; it evolves with interpretations of its foundational customs, demonstrating its adaptability and dynamic nature.
 
My artwork, a manifestation of my unique creative practice, contemplates the concept of tradition in Japan. At its core lies a profound appreciation for aesthetics deeply rooted in tradition, as well as a quest for the coexistence of aesthetic and ethical values, as seen in traditional Japanese art and craft. My creative principle deliberately steers clear of any political entanglements associated with tradition.
 
My work transcends the traditional-versus-contemporary divide, existing in a realm where both coexist harmoniously. I seek to build a rich realm of artistic expression where tradition and the contemporary complement one another, forging a distinctive artistic style uniquely my own. While preserving traditional forms, my work is imbued with a modern perspective and sensibility. Through my art, I explore the limitless possibilities of merging tradition with the contemporary, nurturing the coexistence of aesthetic consciousness and ethics. In this way, I strive to create an unbroken stream of artistic expression that reveres tradition while embracing the ever-evolving spirit of our present era.
 
I believe that my work would be a valuable addition to any exhibition that explores tradition in Japan, or that seeks to showcase contemporary Japanese art that is both rooted in tradition and forward-thinking. I am confident that my work would resonate with viewers and spark meaningful conversations about the role of tradition in our world today.

 
 
  
Left: "Cloth Texturing, Autumn Grass Pattern Vase," (w)39.0 -(d)39.0 -(h)34.0 cm, stoneware and slip painting, wood fired and charcoal smoked, traditional way fired to 1250 degrees C., eight-day firing. Exhibited at Traditional Crafts New Exhibition, Nihon Kogeikai, Tokyo, Japan, 1989.
 
 
 

Right: "Bizen-style Long-necked Ovoid Pottery Vase," (w)17.5.0 -(d)17.5 -(h)46.0 cm, wood-fired stoneware with natural wood ash, Bizen traditional way fired to 1250 degrees C., eight-day firing. Exhibited at Leigh Gallery, London, June 15-27, 1993. Collection of The British Museum (U.K.), 1996.
 
 
 
 
Left: "Faceted Jar with Lid," (w)21.0 - (d)21.0 - (h)33.5cm, wheel-thrown and altered stoneware with natural wood ash, Bizen traditional way fired to 1300 degrees C. oxidation, eight-day firing, "Edge to Edge" Victorian Ceramic Group. Exhibited at Kidogo Arthouse, Bathers Beach Fremantle, Australia, June 27- July 11, 1999.
 


Right: "Bowls in Sets of Five ("Ireko")," smallest (w)17.7 -(d)17.7 -(h)5.5 cm, largest (w)31.3-(d)31.3 -(h)8.5 cm, wheel-thrown and stoneware, salt-water sprayed interior, black slip exterior, bottom upward when stacking kiln, traditional way fired to 1250 degrees C. oxidation, eight-day firing. Published in 500 Bowls: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design, Lark Books, A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.,New York, U.S.A., 2003.

 
 
Left: "Vessel: Otherness," (w)58.0 -(d)16.5 -(h)18.5 cm, wheel-thrown and altered stoneware, with natural glaze, fire change, traditional way fired to 1250 degrees C. reduction, eight-day firing, 2nd International Ceramic Triennial UNICUM. Exhibited at European Cultural and Technological Center Maribor (EKTC), Manor Betnava, Slovenia, May 15- September 30, 2012.
 
 


Right: "Side-fired Vase with Lugs," (w)14.0 -(d)10.5 -(h)20.0 cm, wheel-thrown and altered stoneware, with natural wood ash runs, traditional way fired to 1300 degrees C. reduction, eight-day firing. Exhibited at "The First 40 Years" an Exhibition Celebrating the History of the International Ceramics Studio through its Collection of Contemporary Ceramics. The Pesti Vigadó is the seat of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, August 17 -October 8, 2017.

 
 
 

 
 
Left: "Vessel; Otherness,” (w)75.0 -(d)12.5 -(h)19.5 cm, wheel-thrown and altered stoneware , with natural glaze, fire change, traditional way fired to 1280 degrees C. reduction, eight-day firing, the 5th Biennial International Competition for Artistic and Traditional Ceramics. Exhibited at the Museo dell'Arte Ceramica in Piazza San Tommaso n ° 11, in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, December 14, 2017- February 5, 2018.
 
 
 
 
Right: "Bizen-style Side-fired Teabowl," (w)15.5 -(d)12.9 -(h)9.2 cm, wheel-thrown and stoneware, with natural wood ash glaze showing blue glass "fingers" and "dragonfly eye", Bizen traditional way fired to 1280 degrees C. reduction, ten-day firing. Published in 500 Bowls: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design, Lark Books, A Division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.,New York, U.S.A., 2003.
 
Chawan (tea bowls) were originally for daily use, from the functional point of view their history dates back to the woodenware known as "goki". Certain kinds of daily tableware made from fired clay, such as ricebowls, gained a special status through their use in the soulful culture nurtured by the Way of Tea. The avant-garde perspective enabled these handy bowls to make a universal debut. Masters of the tea ceremony, as artists, provided an artistic perspective without creating actual pieces. This is analogous to the role Marcel Duchamp played when he provided the potential for new points of view by displaying a urinal in an exhibition and proposing the concept of "ready-made" by using bicycle wheels and a stool. Tea Ceremony Utensils