No. 2 Teabowl 咢容碗
2022
Mixed Clay with Glaze and Slip
(h) 4.3″ x (w) 6″ x (d) 5.5″
With Signed Wood Box
Shingu Sayaka has emerged as a young luminary in the Japanese ceramic industry, gaining recognition both within and outside Japan for her captivating ceramic flower series. Renowned for her distinctive approach, her pieces eschew vivid colors, instead embracing a monochromatic aesthetic that imparts a strong and quietly impactful impression.
In the realm of art, flowers often serve as a motif, with numerous artists, such as Robert Mapplethorpe and Georgia O’Keeffe, exploring the cyclical nature of endings and fresh beginnings through their works. Similarly, Shingu’s creations delve into the intricate dance of life reflected in flowers. In Japan, the concept of 無常 (Mujyo/mutability, uncertainty, impermanence) holds a place of common understanding. The transient beauty of 桜 (Sakura/Cherry blossoms), cherished for its fleeting existence, has inspired artistic expressions for millennia. Shingu, in her art, transforms this motif into a tender mode of self-expression, employing colored clay to craft her pieces. Through this medium, her work poignantly captures the essence of transience and the enduring immortality of life.
Shigaraki Jar 信楽広口壺
Shigaraki stoneware
H17″ x Dia14″ x Lip Dia 5.2″ (H43.1 x Dia35.5 x Lip Dia13.2 cm)
With Signed Wood Box
The Shigaraki master Furutani Michio (1946-2000) was the progenitor of Shigaraki classics during his life. The art of Shigaraki, which consists of over a hundred years of tradition, is famous for the surface construction of keshiki through sensitive ash glaze. This shigaraki jar, constructed in 1995, is no exception. The coat of ash and minerals thrown onto the surface of clay highlights the vibrant quality of the clay itself: glimmers of bright orange color of the clay that was brought forth by the kiln fires peeks out from under a layer of subtle cool gray ash. Not only does the shigaraki tradition rely on the potter’s luck with kiln firing, it also brings together the indispensable elements of contemporary and modern Japanese pottery: form, surface, and tradition.
Kawase Shinobu is a contemporary artist and potter working exclusively in the celadon medium. He descends from a long line of ceramicists, and began studying at an early age with his father. His early work adheres to the more traditional Song dynasty style of celadon, but he has been making inventive and original use of the medium since the early 1980s. Shinobu finds inspiration in nature, often taking formal clues from flora and fauna and translating them into elegant ceramic works of art.
He has enjoyed great critical success and his award-winning ceramics can be found in many prominent public and private collections. His work showcases modern, graceful organic forms that establish him as an outstanding master of contemporary celadon in Japan.
Bizen Flower Vase
Stoneware
(h) 12.5″ x (w) 5.5″ x (d) 3.9″
With Signed Wood Box
Bizen, Shigaraki, Tokoname, Seto, Echizen, and Tamba stand as the six ancient kilns of Japan, each with a rich history and artistic tradition. Bizen, in particular, boasts kiln sites dating back to the 13th century, and over the generations, artists have cultivated a robust tradition rooted in its fertile lands.
Hailing from Nagasaki and a luminary in the Bizen pottery scene, Kakurezaki Ryuichi 隠崎隆一 (b. 1950) is celebrated for his bold forms and elegant surfaces, which artfully showcase the diverse qualities of Bizen clay. Bizen Okayama, arguably Japan’s most renowned pottery center, is home to numerous Bizen potters who elevate their craft to a sculptural level, a sentiment vividly embodied in Kakurezaki’s work.
In the realm of contemporary ceramics, “Seto” ware stands out for its distinctive regional expression, featuring a mesmerizing array of glazes. The clay sourced from Seto possesses exceptional quality, consisting of kaolin and porcelain-type stone clay. When fired, this clay transforms into a brilliant white canvas, facilitating the creation of a vibrant palette of colored glazes. Yet, the question lingers: How did this exceptional diversity in modern ceramics come to be?
The production of porcelain in Seto is said to have begun in the later years of the Edo period. In Seto village, the transition from pottery to porcelain production started in 1801 when a group of individuals (including the celebrated potters Kato Karasaburo and Kato Kichizaemon) switched from pottery to porcelain production. During the Meiji restoration, a burst of expression in Seto ceramics occurred when kilns began to compete with one another.
This exhibition embarks on a journey through time, into the old origins of ceramics from the Seto region encompassing a range of historical periods from Edo, to Meiji and Showa: celebrating the ceramics of what is now known as “E-Seto.”
We warmly welcome you to appreciate the origins of Seto pottery this summer!
Earthly Forms: Ceramic Works by Hiruma Kazuyo & Matsutani Fumio
Online and In-Person June 13 – 28, 2024
We are delighted to present a two-person exhibition showcasing the intricate ceramic works of Hiruma Kazuyo & Matsutani Fumio.
Hiruma, born in 1948, crafts evocative sculptures inspired by nature’s grandeur. Using thin clay sheets and multiple glazes, she captures the essence of landscapes, erosion, and natural forces.
Matsutani, born in 1975, creates vessels that merge movement, color, and surface, reflecting his mastery of traditional techniques and innovative forms. His works are characterized by architectural elegance and a refined, monochromatic palette. Together, their works create a dynamic dialogue, blending tradition with contemporary artistry, and highlighting their unique journeys and creative processes.
The accompanying digital exhibition catalog, featuring an article by author & curator Joe Earle and new interviews with the artists, can be viewed here.
To learn more and contact us with enquiries, click here.
Latest Acquisitions
View our latest acquisitions of modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics online. Since our beginning in 1989, we have been focused on highlighting museum-quality Japanese ceramics to the contemporary art scene in New York City. The gallery has introduced pieces to the permanent collections of several major museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Indianapolis Art Museum, The Princeton University Art Museum, and many more.
Our mission is to bring the timeless grace of modern classics, 20th and 21st century Japanese ceramics, to the world by providing leading expertise to collectors, working with established & emerging artists, and showcasing inspiring exhibitions. We strive towards compassionate and bespoke services to our clientele which includes connoisseurs, collectors, curators, interior designers, and more. We work to connect an international audience to the heart of museum-quality Japanese ceramics & ceramic art.
