Interview: Ryotaro Kato (Ceramic Artist)
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We share a variety of information and perspectives on Japanese crafts, including exhibition information and interviews.
VOICE VOL.7
KOGEI & Me VOL.32
KOGEI Topics VOL.16
Featured Exhibitions & Events VOL.41
Dec 12 – Dec 25, 2024
Seiko House Hall
Dec 17, 2024 – Feb 24, 2025
National Crafts Museum
Dec 18 – Dec 24, 2024
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi
Dec 21 – Dec 29, 2024
essence kyoto
These works showcase the artist’s rich sense of form, combined with meticulous consideration for their intended purpose. Holding these pieces, one can glimpse his free-spirited and unconventional approach to ceramics. In this exhibition, Bizen ware pieces with black glaze were presented alongside the Shira-hana pieces with ash glaze. Not quite satisfied with the unglazed finish, he decided to apply glaze and fire them again, resulting in excellent outcomes. “I don’t create with a specific intention in mind, but rather, the variations naturally emerge through this process. I think it’s great that visitors to the exhibition will have a range of discoveries and insights, thinking ‘Ah, so this is what he creates too!’ That’s why I want to continue challenging myself with different things,” Hitoshi laughs.
Apprenticing under Seiya Toyoba in Mino, Gifu prefecture, had a significant impact on him. “Living with Master Toyoba was like practicing Zen. I would wake up at the same time every day and meticulously attend to each aspect of daily life, such as cleaning. I learned the fundamentals of living. How you live connects to everything. Making ceramics is just one part of it. To work with a positive mindset, it’s important to lead a well-structured life and establish a rhythm,” he explains.
Hitoshi says he consciously creates works that suit the space of the exhibition venue. If it’s a dimly lit space, he aims to create pieces that blend in, and if it’s a bright space, he designs works that shine in the light. The vibrant presence of his works within the exhibition space may be attributed to the fact that his own way of being is effectively conveyed through his creations.
Related information
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