We are pleased to announce that we will be organising a Japanese ceramics exhibition at the TOTO Concept Showroom Gallery in Farringdon, from 10th to 18th July, 10:00 to 5:00, (closed on Saturday and Sunday). We going to be showcasing wonderful works from the Karatsu Kyozangama kiln works, the world famous Hamada kiln, the wonderful Mingei collection from the Sakuma kiln, as well as a very popular tea collection from Midori Noto from Mashiko Japan.
Karatsu is based in the Saga prefecture, on Kyusu island in the south part of Japan. It’s near to Korea (actually Saga is much closer to Korea than it is to Tokyo) and Korean potters have had a great influence on those in Karatsu since late 16th century. Many Japanese tea lovers hope to have a Karatsu matcha tea bowl in their collection one day. You can read my tea bowl blog all about it here.
You might know that a well-known British potter Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada created ceramic works together at St. Ives in Cornwall, as well as in Mashiko in Japan, in the early to mid 20th century. Hamada was the co-founder of the Mingei (people’s art) movement, and Mashiko town still has a great variety of potters working there now. Most of Mashiko’s potters are influenced by Hamada, and create beautiful Mingei-style ceramics. I have visited Mashiko quite a few times to meet up with the potters there, and found beautiful works of art! So I am especially excited to showcase this collection for an international audience. Please feel free to visit us at the TOTO Concept Showroom to see these beautiful works of art. I will be posting some more details on Instagram - @keikouchidaUK - day by day. It is going to be a great opportunity to see and touch proper Karatsu and Mashiko works!
If you are interested, I have written about the Karatsu tea bowl on my blog.