2001 B.F.A. Osaka University of Arts
1979 Born in Osaka
Solo Exhibitions
2022 Gallery Labo, Ehime
Gallery Utsuwakan, Kyoto
2020 Gallery Kochukyo, Tokyo
Meguro Togeikan, Mie
2018 Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Tokyo
2017 Kochukyo Gallery, Tokyo
2016 Gallery Lab, Ehime
2015 Gallery Utsuwakan, Kyoto
Gallery Tosei, Osaka
Utsuwa Note, Saitama
2014 ENTOREZ, Kobe
2013 Gallery Suchi, Tokyo ('10)
Rokurokudo, Kyoto
Utsuwakana, Kyoto ('11)
2012 Gallery Yuragi, Kyoto
2011 INAX Live Museum, Tokoname
2010 Silver Shell, Tokyo
INAX Galleria Ceramica, Tokyo
2007 Three D Gallery Iteza, Kyoto
2005 Gallery Maronie, Kyoto
Group Exhibitions
2023 Object of Affection, Daiichi Arts, NY
2019 Sense of Wonder: Kyoto Ceramics Now Exhibition, Ryosokuin Zen Temple, Kyoto
The World of Phenomena, Setouchi City Museum of Art
2017 Beauty of Use, Kyoto Takashimaya
Object, Yakata Yusai, TokyoObject, Yakata Yusai, Tokyo
2016 MARVELOUS, MIRACULOUS, CURIOUS,, Saihodo Gallery, Tokyo (’14)
2015 Dialogue with Materials: Contemporary Japanese Arts an Crafts, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Gravity, Gallery Suchi, Tokyo Tokyo
2014 Aesthetic Premonition - Metamorphose, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka
MARVELOUS, MIRACULOUS, CURIOUS, Saihodo Gallery, Tokyo
International Japanische Progressive Keramik Trifft auf Japanische Avantgardistische Malerei,
Galerie IAC-Berlin-Koigswinter and Tenri Kultur Werkstatt, Cologne
Dialogue with Materials: Contemporary Japanese Arts an Crafts, Ahmed Adnen Saygun Sanat Merkezi, Izmir, Turkey
2013 La céramique Japonaise, Association Culturelle Franco-Japonaise de TENRI, Paris, Luxembourg
ART OSAKA 2013
2012 Asia's top galleries, Hotel Art Fair, Hong Kong
Art Kyoto 2012, Kyoto
7th Paramita Museum Ceramic Competition
2010 RITTAI BUTSU BUTSU TEN, Shibuya Bunkanura Gallery, Tokyo
+PLUS - The Art Fair, Tokyo
2007 Asahi Ceramic Exhibition ('04)
Awards
2007 Accepted: Asahi Ceramic Exhibition ('04)
Collections/ Public Art
Anadole University Museum, Eskisehir, Turkey
Most of my pieces resemble fragile dried flowers. Because colored flowers are common and too familiar to people, I use black clay which I think allows one to use one’s imagination and see beyond flowers.
Before I begin creating a piece, I have in my mind the size and roughly the shape. If I first make a sketch for the completed image, the shapes tend to be forms I have previously seen, and so the finished piece won’t be interesting to me; therefore I prefer to allow for significant changes while I am working on a piece.
I mix clay with black pigments in varying proportions in order to create a monotonic palette of color. When constructing a piece I first make many ‘petals’ out of very thin black clay, and while doing this I keep in mind the need to express various movements or shapes of the individual petals. I then make thousands of the very small, needle size rods that form the center cluster of ‘stamens’ of the flower, which is extremely time consuming. It is important to me to convey a sense of growing, undulating stamens in order to express that the flower is in the final stage of life. I think this is the most important part of the execution. After the first (bisque) firing, I then add either white slip or occasionally glaze and fire them a second time.
When I observe all the stages of the life of a single flower—the first stem, the buds, the full bloom, the wilting and drying—I am reminded of the same stages in the lives of human beings and I think about their inner feelings. This is generally the source of my inspiration. In spite of the inevitable ending of life, both flowers and humans produce new generations. I am always deeply touched by the invisible pulsating life force of flowers, and I try to express this energy in my work with flower forms. If I convey this to others, I am satisfied.
