Robert Yellin on wed 18 nov 98
This is an unedited story from my October Japan Times
column. Ryuichi Kakurezaki is on the cover of the most
recent CERAMICS ART AND PERCEPTION magazine(www.ceramicart.com.au)-
do check it out.
From Numazu, where an awe-inspiring meteor shower passed last night,
Robert Yellin
October is such a glorious time of the year when nature offers up a
bounty of natural treasures, like chestnuts and persimmons or the
blazing colors of foliage- the harvest month gives nourishment to our
stomachs as well as our hearts.
In the Japanese art world, October is also a harvest month, for the
season is called Bunka no Aki or 'Cultural Autumn' and there are umpteen
interesting and worthwhile exhibitions happening throughout the land to
pick from.
One show that I and many others have been looking forward to is the
Bizen ceramic artist, Ryuichi Kakurezaki's exhibition in Tokyo at
Akasaka Green Gallery from the 15 until Nov 7.
I use the term ceramic artist here to differentiate it from potter, of
course Kakurezaki is a potter in the sense that he works with clay and
fires it in one of his five kilns, but he has taken his vision beyond
the confines of traditional tableware shapes or standard
'Momoyama-inspired Tea shapes that abound in Bizen's traditional world,
and has created his own style of Bizen which I shall call Hesei Bizen;
he has given Bizen a fine arts mentality. In the connoisseurs world of
pottery collecting, pieces from the Momoyama period are most prized, for
that was Japan's Renaissance years that saw the crystalliazation of many
of Japan's artistic triumphs; in the world of Bizen, pieces from that
period through the middle of the Edo-period are known as Ko-Bizen or
'old Bizen' and are highly treasured.
Kakurezaki has not ignored Ko-Bizen though, to do so would be to lose
perspective of what it means to be a Bizen ceramist and run the risk of
cutting himself off from all the creative energy that Ko-Bizen pieces
speak of. Kakurezaki has studied Ko-Bizen as well as many forms of
contemporary art and has tapped into the 'spirit' of Bizen without being
a complacent participant. "Much of the beauty of Ko-Bizen derives from
the clay that was used then, that clay is not available now so why
should I recreate classical forms with inferior materials. I might as
well take a risk and create my own styles," Kakurezaki recently told me.
Kakurezaki's star began to rise around 1985 when he left his long
apprenticeship with Jun Isezaki (Isezaki was designated an Okayama
prefectural intangible cultural property this year), and established his
own kiln that has given birth to his Heisei-Bizen. His thoroughly
original designs have earned him success and a reputation rarely seen
for a ceramic artist so soon after establishing one's own kiln; he has
won numerous prestigious juried shows as well as the Japan Ceramic
Society Prize.
Kakurezaki can be likened to an outlaw, "I come from Nagasaki, far from
Bizen, and that allowed me to express myself in more unchained ways.
Looking from outside I am indeed a Bizen ceramic artist, but looking
from within the tradition of Bizen, I do appear quite different"
His flared bases, three-legged vessals, and his sharply cut ridged
vases, have all become his trademark. Already other Bizen potters are
imitating his creative genius and that has sparked a new crop of up and
coming potters not content with century old forms.
Kakurezaki's current series is entitled 'North Images' (Kakurezaki often
has series titles, past ones being 'Phalanx' and 'Moon Spot') and the
thirty or so pieces in the show were fired in four different style kilns
and exhibit a range of Bizen surface effects which include scarlet red
'hidasuki' streaks as well as 'goma', sesame brown colored patches or
drips where the pine wood fused and melted during the firing, and black
spots where the ash turned to charcoal. Many of the pieces are open-
mouthed with Kakurezaki's signature flared base and quite 'bunny'
looking ears angling off to one side.
I recently caught up with him in Tokyo and he explained about the
series title, "We always think of directions as associated with images.
The image of the south being warm, sunny, friendly and as the north as
cold, cloudy, and severe.
I feel we need to look to the north now to find inspiration and change
that Japan, and in a sense myself also need.
Kakurezaki has already changed the world of Bizen with his 'Hesei Bizen'
and through these changes he will take Bizen into the next century;
fresh and full of vitality.
Akasaka Green Gallery can be reached by taking a subway to Akasaka
mitsuke station and walking past First Kitchen on Aoyama dori. Walk
until you come to the Doutor coffee shop and turn left at the corner.
Walk up the street, past the camels on the left, and the gallery is on
the right. Call Kazuko Ito(03-3401-5255) for more info in English.
Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays.
I just want to mention a list of other ceramic events recommended this
month:
I'm planning a ceramic weekend on Oct.31-Nov.1 for those interested down
here in Izu. I plan to go to the anagama kiln unloading of Hitoshi Abe,
have lunch next to his 350 year old thatched roof house, mountain hot
spring in the evening, and a gallery and other potter for the next
morning. Space is limited. Those interested should send an email or
postcard to me at: Nishisawada 637, Numazu-shi, Shizuoka-ken 410-0007.
Others can fax me at: 0559-26-0302.
In Tokyo: Gesson Hamanaka from Hagi at Gallery Aruigus(03-5491-2032)
located next to the Setagaya Business Square until the 30.
The extraordinary Sueharu Fukami is at Kandori located in the lobby of
the Hotel New Otani from the 18-25. His celadon pieces are masterpieces
collected by museums throughout the world.
Former pro wrestling champion currently actor/potter Yoshiaki Fujiwara
will be showing his creative side at Gallery Eizangama
located on Miyuki-dori in Ginza starting today until the 18. Call
03-5568-5120 for more info.
The delightful and playful tableware of Takumi Kuroiwa can be seen at
Gallery Tosuke located near JR Okachimachi station until the 14. Kuroiwa
fires Oribe and red-enamelled wares and his pieces are a joy to use.
Call the gallery at 03-5688-6871.
In Bizen, Okayama prefecture, the Bizen Festival on the 17-18. In
Hiroshima is Yoshiro Kimura's koro or incense burner exhibition at
Mitsukoshi department store's 7th floor gallery.
And finally, I'm on the cover of 'Ceramic Art and Perception'
magazines current issue! Well, not me exactly, it's a wonderful
shot of Kakurezaki's work, I just wrote the story.
Email me at: rlyell@izu.co.jp
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