Tag Archives: Japanese contemporary

Contemporary Ceramic : Japanese Women

 

Although Japanese women were involved in the Japanese pottery industry for centuries, mainly as decorative artists with their tea wares or performing menial tasks, they were excluded from being in direct contact with the kilns or taking on apprenticeships.  Postwar Japan saw more opportunities arise for women in advanced education and they began to enter university art schools and other training facilities both in Japan and overseas. They were exposed to a broader range of creative disciplines and artistic movements and successfully integrated this into their ceramic art and sculptures, while maintaining  a connection to the subtle Japanese aesthetic.

From the mid-50’s on they began to establish themselves as independent studio pottery artists. The current generation of female Japanese ceramicists have truly emerged with original and innovative works that seamlessly blend contemporary with traditional styles and techniques and open up new horizons in Japanese art.

 

 

Tomita Mikiko - ceramic sculpture

Metamorphosis 5 –  Tomita Mikiko – ceramic sculpture

 2006

 

 

 

 

Tomita Mikiko

Metamorphosis 2 – Tomita Mikiko

 2006

 

 

 

 

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Cornucopia 05-XIII – Tashima Etsuk

Japanese ceramic sculpture , 2005

 

 

 

 

Hayashi Kaku contemporary ceramics

Hayashi Kaku contemporary ceramics

( japanesepottery.com )

 

 

 

 

Hayashi Kaku

Hayashi Kaku

 

 

 

Sakurai Yasuko - Vertical Flower

Sakurai Yasuko – Vertical Flower

2010

( yufuku gallery )

Sakurai first builds her forms by connecting her mold-cast porcelain tubes using clay and slip; she then scrapes away the exterior clay revealing her envisioned sculptural contours. The form is then hollowed out, now exposing the distorted openings that accent the walls of her sculptures.

 

 

 

Sakurai Yasuko

Sakurai Yasuko

 

 

 

 

Matsuda Yuriko

La Prière (The Prayer), 2006 – Matsuda Yuriko

 

 

 

 

Matsuda Yuriko

Matsuda Yuriko –  In her shoes,  2007.

 

 

 

 

Matsuda Yuriko Japanese ceramic art

Matsuda Yuriko   Mount Fuji, 2007

Clay with porcelain, enamels.

 

 

 

 

Koike Shoko

Persian Tea Bowl – Koike Shoko

2007

 

 

 

 

Koike Shoko sculptural ceramic

Koike Shoko – Shell Vessel

2006

Koike takes the sea as her point of departure, creating shell-inspired forms in stoneware with irregular, undulating edges that protrude from her hand-built bodies. Made from Shigaraki clay, her wheel-thrown bodies are later shaped by hand and adorned with ruffled edges and projections. A creamy white, opaque clay covers her forms. The edges are further defined with iron brown glaze and sometimes supplemented with metallic, iridescent or turquoise glazes.

Imada Yoko Purity

Sei (purity) – Imada Yoko

( yufuku gallery )

 

 

Kitamura Tsuruyo

Moon Shadows – Kitamura Tsuruyo

1994

 ( www.kehoe.com.au )

 

 

 

 

Kitamura Tsuruyo Japanese sculpture

Essence of Woman, 1986. Kitamura Tsuruyo

Stoneware, glaze.

 

 

 

 

Kitamura Tsuruyo

 Dawn, 2003 – Kitamura Tsuruyo

 

Fukumoto Fuku

Fukumoto Fuku

White vase form of deep straight-sided bowl set within a conical bowl, joined by a band of blue and green glazes, 2013

( Joan B Mirviss )

 

 

 

 

Fukumoto Fuku

Fukumoto Fuku

 ( keikoartinternational.com)

 

 

 

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Vase with Seascape – Kitamura Junko

1992

Kitamura creates modern forms that reflect her upbringing in ancient Kyoto. Inspired by primitive Jomon pottery (10,500-300 BC), Kitamura creates monochrome vessels with mysterious spiral motifs consisting of dots and detailed patterning. After impressing miniscule geometric shapes into patterns reflective of textile, lacquer and other craft motifs, she covers the work in black-brown slip before bisque firing.

 

 

 

Kitamura Junko japanese female potter

Great Wave – Kitamura Junko

1993

Photograph by Petegorsky/Gipe

 

Japanese Kitamura Junko

Large Double-Ellipse Vessel – Kitamura Junko

 2006

 

 

Kitamura Junko

Cone Vase – Kitamura Junko

 1993

 

Kitamura Junko

 

  Double-Walled Vessel  – Kitamura Junko

Stoneware, white slip, 2005

 

 

 

 

Kishi Eiko.--Japanese

Noh Form  – Kishi Eiko

Stoneware, colored clay chamottes, clay slip, glaze. 2004

 

 

 

 

Kishi Eiko contemporary sculpture

Saiseki Zōgan Vessel – Kishi Eiko

2003

 

Kishi Eiko

Saiseki zogan utsuwa – Kishi Eiko

Eiko Kishi invented the technique used to create this piece, which she calls “colored inlay” (saiseki zōgan).  This technique is her primary method for making ceramic artwork, and she has been using it since 1984.  Kishi begins this process by mixing wet clay with small fragments of ground, hardened clay. She then molds the form of the piece and shallowly cuts a pattern into the surface of the form using a needle or engraving knife. Before firing, these crevices are filled with more fragments of ground clay, raw pigment, and glazes.  Kishi has said that she enjoys utilizing this process because the finished effect is reminiscent of stone, yet the works still retain the properties of ceramic objects

 

 

 

 

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Saiseki Zōgan Flowing Motif in Stone – Kishi Eiko

1983  – Photograph by Keitaro Yoshioka, Boston.

 

 

 

 

Kawakami Tomoko ceramic vessels

Vessels for Flowers – Kawakami Tomoko

2007

 

Katsumata Chieko

Katsumata  Chieko

 

 

 

 

Katsumata Chieko

Katsumata Chieko

 

 

 

 

Katsumata Chieko

Katsumata Chieko 1983

Helmet Shaped Vase with Textured Patination

 Photograph by Robert Lorenzson, New York.

 

 

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 Untitled (French Pumpkin) – Katsumata Chieko

2005

Photograph by Richard P. Goodbody.

 

 

Katsumata Chieko

Katsumata Chieko  1996

Katsumata went to study industrial design in France, where she met a female ceramic artist who used hand-built forms to express herself in a free and spontaneous manner. The freshness of this artist’s work made such an impression on Katsumata that she began making pottery herself. It was also through her French art-school tutor that she discovered the beauty of Japanese ceramics. Katsumata’s fondness for layering coloured slips owes much to a technique of overlaying colours in oil-painting. Instead of painting directly on the vessel, she covers the vessel with a piece of cloth while she applies the color in order not to leave traces of brushwork. The process of covering and applying decoration is repeated as required to produce a unique color and texture. Her use of striking hues and bold forms give her pieces a surrealistic edge.

 

 

Fujikasa Satoko-Flow-#1

The feminine elegance of Fujikasa Satoko-Flow-#1

 

Kata-O-YaburuFUJINO-SACHIKO

Yellow glazed sculpture “Sprouting Seed”  – Fujino Satchiko

 ( Joan B Mirviss )

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Fujino Satchiko

( WAH centre )

 

Hoshino Kayoko

Glazed Dish – Hoshino Kayoko

2006

 By hand-pinching and slicing her clay with wires, Hoshino “releases” the forms within the clay to create silhouettes and shapes inspired by the mountain peaks and boulders from the natural landscape of rural Japan.

 

 

 

 

Hoshino Kayoko

Decorative Vessel – Hoshino Kayoko

2006

 

 

Hoshino Kayoko

Platter with Palladium  – Hoshino Kayoko

2006

 

 

Ogawa Machiko

Red vessel with linear motif – Ogawa Machiko

Stoneware with iron-oxide glaze -2012

( Joan B Mirviss )

 

 

Chawan by Ogawa Machiko

Chawan by Ogawa Machiko

( japanesepottery.com )

 

Futamura Yoshimi

 Vasques  – Futamura Yoshimia

The sculptural forms of Futamura Yoshimia are intended to be reflections of nature and are infused with a vibrant living essence. She uses a blend of stoneware and a mixture of fired and raw granulated porcelain to create her collapsed rounded forms that appear both vegetal and geological in origin. These forms are encrusted with feldspar, and enhanced with cobalt and iron oxide glazes that are sometimes iridescent.

 

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 Futamura Yoshimi

Puls Gallery

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 Vase 2008  – Futamura Yoshimi

yoshimifutamura.com )

 

 

Futamura Yoshimi

 Naissance (Birth) – Futamura Yoshimi

2005

 

 Kayoko Hoshino

 Kayoko Hoshino

 

 

Japanese Contemporary Pottery

The Japanese tea ceremony is an artform in itself and the choice of  ceramic utensils used in serving the tea is given careful consideration including the  aesthetic. This has contributed over the centuries to a wide appreciation of the ceramic arts in Japan .Competitions and exhibitions are regularly organised and they attract media  coverage and wide interest from ceramic connoisseurs and collectors. A Japanese potter can have his  career trajectory  quickly elevated by gaining awards in these contests and this has led to continual improvisation, experimentation and refinement in the ceramic crafts. The older traditions of their pottery methods are still revered and practised. Contemporary Japanese ceramicists are able to seamlessly merge modern elements of design, techniques and materials with ancient traditions and maintain the unique Japanese aesthetic.

Matsui Kôsei (1927-2003) :

Matsui Kôse Vase - Ovoid vase striped with blue, gray and white marbleized colored clay

Ovoid vase striped with blue, gray and white marbleized colored clay, ca.1977

Matsui Kôsei

 

Matsui Kôsei Small neriage conical vase - marbleized gray, beige and white colored clays

Small neriage conical vase with marbleized gray, beige and white colored clays, ca. 1977

Matsui Kôsei

 

 

Matsui Kôsei - Stoneware with marbleized colored clay inlays

 Stoneware with marbleized colored clay inlays-  1979

Matsui Kôsei

 

 

Matsui Kôsei (1927-2003) Japanese pottery

Small early neriage vase, ca. 1965

Matsui Kôsei

Tokuda Yasokichi III :

Tokuda Yasokichi III Vase - turquoise green glaze

Tokuda Yasokichi III Vase

Kato Yasukage :

Kato Yasukage Teabowl

Tea bowl with red and creamy white shino glazes, 2011

Kato Yasukage

Nishihata Tadashi :

These pieces were displayed at the ” Fired By Tradition ” exhibition (2011) at the  Joan B Mirviss Gallery

Spherical Tanba Vessel by Nishihata Tadashi

Spherical Tanba vessel with faceted diagonal banding and dripping natural ash glaze and markings.- Nishihata Tadashi

 

 

Nishihata Tadashi Tea Bowl

Tanba ware glazed tea bowl with faceted carved exterior – Nishihata Tadashi

 

 

Tilting Tanba Vase with moon-shaped opening

Tilting Tanba vase with moon-shaped opening and natural dripping ash glaze; 2011 – Nishihata Tadashi


Faceted Tanba tokkuri (sake flask) - Nishihata-Tadashi

Faceted Tanba tokkuri (sake flask) with light-colored natural ash glaze, 2011 – Nishihata Tadashi

Suzuki-Osamu  ( 1926-2001 ) :

Suzuki Osamu Japanese ceramic Sculpture

Suzuki Osamu Sculpture – Kitamura Junko

Osamu-Suzuki Sculpture

Osamu Suzuki

Kitamura Junko :

Kitamura-Junko-Japanese contemporary ceramic sculpture

Oval Vessel 1995 – Kitamura Junko

 

 

Kitamura Junko Tall Vessel

 Tall Open Vessel 1998 – Kitamura Junko

 

 

Kitamura-Junko spherical vessel

Kitamura Junko

Kato Yasukage :

Kato Yasukage Vase - green glaze with modernist shape

Kato Yasukage

Suzuki Goro :

Narumioribe water jar, 1999 - Suzuki Goro

Narumioribe water jar, 1999 – Suzuki Goro

Hiroshi Miraji :

Hiroshi Miraji lidded ceramic vessel with small twin handles

Hiroshi Miraji

Musee Tomo

 

Akiyama Yo :

"Tension-and-Transition " ceramic sculpture - Akiyama Yo

” Tension-and-Transition “ – Akiyama Yo

 

Miyashita Zenji

Miyashita Zenji contemporary ceramic sculpture

Miyashita Zenji-1994-MFAH

Trapezoidal flower vase with diagonal bands, by Miyashita Zenji

Trapezoidal flower vase with diagonal bands, 1997

Miyashita Zenji

Miyashita-Zenji tea ceremony pottery

Four-piece set for the Japanese tea ceremony, 2005.

Miyashita Zenji

Kawai Kanjirô  (1890-1960) :

Kawai-Kanjiro Vessel Pale green crackleur and iron-oxide glazed lobed vase, ca. 1938 - Kawai-Kanjirô

Pale green crackleur and iron-oxide glazed lobed vase, ca. 1938 – Kawai-Kanjirô 

Kawamoto-Goro   (1919—1986) :

Kawamoto-Gorô teapot

Kawamoto-Goro

YAGI Kazuo ( 1918-1979 ) :

YAGI Kazuo - Japanese Cup

YAGI Kazuo – Cup 1950

Mihara Ken :

Mihara Ken folded ceramic vase

Mihara Ken

Mihara Ken Art Sculpture

” Kodô (Pulse) “,  2011 – Mihara Ken
Multi-fired unglazed stoneware

Shogo-Ikeda :

Shogo-Ikeda abstract ceramic dish

Shogo-Ikeda

Shimaoka Tatsuzô ( 1919 – 2007 )

Japanese round platter with slip-filled, cord-impressed pattern and floral design on iron glaze ground, 1972 by Shimaoka Tatsuzô

Round platter with slip-filled, cord-impressed pattern and floral design on iron glaze ground, 1972 – Shimaoka Tatsuzô

Ryoji-Koie :

Ryoji Koie ceramic cup

Ryoji Koie

Yamada-Hikaru  (1923-2001) :

Yamada-Hikaru Sculpture - Diamond-shaped glazed perforated stoneware sculpture.1972

Diamond-shaped glazed perforated stoneware sculpture.1972

Ogata Kamio  ( b.1949)

Ogata Kamio Spherical Vase - neriage Marbleized stoneware with twisted fluting colored clays

Spherical neriage vase Marbleized stoneware with twisted fluting colored clays, 2011

Fukami Sueharu :

Fukami Sueharu contemporary porcelain sculpture

Fukami has dedicated almost 50 years to sculptural ceramics and he is

internationally known for his celebrated pale-blue glazed porcelains,

a glaze that is inspired by Chinese porcelains of the tenth to thirteenth centuries.

Akira-Yamada :

Akira-Yamada - red contemporary ceramic vessel

Akira-Yamada

Sakiyama Takayuki :

Sakiyama Takayuki ceramic sculpture with weave style pattern

Sakiyama Takayuki

Imaizumi Imaemon :

Imaizumi Imaemon-botanical decoration

Imaizumi Imaemon

Imaizumi Imaemon ceramic lidded vessel

Imaizumi Imaemon

Shogo-Ikeda :

Shogo-Ikeda Bowls

Shogo Ikeda

Takenaka Ko :

Stoneware bottle vase with white slip and decorated with cast oxides by Takenaka Ko

Takenaka Ko

Stoneware bottle vase with white slip and decorated with cast oxides

Ogawa-Machiko ceramic ash blue bowl

Ogawa Machiko – ash blue bowl

Kai Satoshi Museum

twelve-generations-Miwa-Kyuyuki--Ryusaku--Roume-bowl-both-boxes--Miwa-Kyuyuki

Twelfth generation potter Miwa Kyuyuki