Our exhibition, ‘The Great Inheritance – Tomoo Hamada & Kan Matsuzaki’, is now in its second week. Last Sunday we took the two potters off to Heathrow, after their week’s stay with us launching the show.
There was a full schedule, including tea ceremonies, a talk show with audience questions, and gallery walk-ins for people to come and meet the artists. Thank you everyone who took part – it was a huge success. So interesting and so much fun.
Tomoo was so brilliant with his ideas and explanations, and very generously shared with us one of his sketch books, with films of salt-glaze firing, which will be on our website soon.
At the end of the talk show, there were so many questions for both of them, Tomoo and Kan, with so many subjects covered. I thought it was fascinating to hear from Kan that it takes 4 months to produce a matcha tea bowl using the Kurinuki technique. And to hear about some of his inspirations - seeing beautiful paintings and sculpture, and watching films, as well as talking to people. Maybe our conversations last week will be inspiration for him for some new work!
Tomoo had some really interesting information, and shared with us stories about his grandfather Shoji Hamada and Bernard Leach. Apparently Leach wanted to build their kiln near to London, close to possibilities for commercial success, however Shoji – who was much more fond of the countryside - insisted on somewhere much more rural, one of the reasons why they ended up together in St Ives.
Another story he told about Shoji was that, after he went back to Japan, all his friends recommended that he build his kiln near Tokyo or Kyoto – again for reasons of commercial success. Again, partly because of his love of nature, he resisted these ideas and settled in the countryside in Mashiko instead.
The exhibition looks wonderful – Tomoo and Kan’s pots are so beautiful and exciting – and it will be on in the gallery here in Notting Hill until 17th October. It’s a very special chance to see the work of two of Japan’s top contemporary potters close-up. Make sure you don’t miss it! We’re open Monday to Saturday, 11.00 to 6.30.
Keiko Uchida:
120 Talbot Road, London, W11 1JR
Suddenly it’s become very chilly, so please take care of yourself. Have a nice cup of tea, keep warm
