| This weekend I went to Cibone in Tokyo where a few hundred piecec of ceramics by Teppei Ono are exhibited. Teppei Ono is a Japanese potter now living in Taniai (Gifu prefecture). Far from the city, he makes large plates, small cups, bowls, pitchers and so on. At this exhibition, the pieces all had quite simple shapes. Some of them were combed which created a truly interesting texture. The white glaze was uneven on some of the pieces and I found these different densities quite beautiful. Because all these ceramics were in the same tones, it gave a feeling of something still and quiet, yet very welcoming. The clay itself was gorgeous and felt wonderful. Teppei Ono says it is easier to convey his feeling if people touch his work, as holding a bowl in your hands is an experience anyone can have without being educated to pottery. Since Teppei belives his ceramics are almost a part of himself, coming out of his body, this importance of touch completely makes sense: he puts something very personal into his work and just looking at it is not enough to feel it. |
The exhibition brochure features an interview of Teppei Ono in which he talks about his relation to his work. He notes how his hands changed since he started a while ago: “I use them a lot and they seem to be getting thicker. They’re becoming expressive, like a face”
“I use them a lot and they seem to be getting thicker. They’re becoming expressive, like a face”
Interview with Yoshitaka Haba
We usually think of the potter as someone shaping something, but I find it very interesting to see it the other way around: your body is also shaped by the work you’re doing. Which means it is a continuous exchange going both ways. As his body changes, his ways of making things will change as well.
But even though these ceramics are so unique and personal, they are really open, in terms of use. It is up to the user to decide if this bowl is going to be for drinking tea or eating rice. In the end, this is the kind of pottery we would pick in the cupboard because we like the feel of it.
The exhibition is open every day until November 17th, 2015 at Cibone in Tokyo. More information about the exhibition here.
But even though these ceramics are so unique and personal, they are really open, in terms of use. It is up to the user to decide if this bowl is going to be for drinking tea or eating rice. In the end, this is the kind of pottery we would pick in the cupboard because we like the feel of it.
The exhibition is open every day until November 17th, 2015 at Cibone in Tokyo. More information about the exhibition here.