Our gallery is moving from Asakusa to Hatchobori, and we are delighted to begin this new chapter with our first solo exhibition by Shintaro Uchimura. We hope you will continue to support us in our new location.
As many of you may already know, Uchimura works in Itoshima, Fukuoka, creating primarily Karatsu and Korean-inspired ceramics.
I cannot claim to know Itoshima as a whole particularly well, but the surroundings of Uchimura’s studio have left a strong impression on me. There is abundant greenery, a gentle river flowing nearby, and a rustic stone wall running along its banks. From a large rock within the grounds of his studio, one can look out over this scenery—a wonderfully peaceful place from which to enjoy the changing seasons. Perhaps it is the harmony between natural and man-made beauty that gives the place its distinctive atmosphere.
Whether or not this environment has directly influenced his work, I cannot say, but I sense something of the same atmosphere in Uchimura’s ceramics.
His wheel-throwing and trimming are refined and precise, yet enlivened by subtle variations in rhythm that give the vessels a reassuring sense of balance. His distinctive glazes and clay surfaces possess a quiet, weathered character while retaining a subtle luster, allowing us to sense something of the beauty of nature within them.
We cannot hold a stone wall or a flowing river in our hands, but through Uchimura’s work, perhaps we can experience something of that same feeling.
The exhibition will feature tea wares, flower vessels, sake wares, and tableware, as well as vessels suitable for Chinese tea. These forms suit Uchimura’s style remarkably well. We will also present his Gen’etsu and Mozō works, styles rarely explored by contemporary ceramic artists.
We very much hope you will come and see the exhibition.
