Once again this year, we are pleased to present a solo exhibition by Hideki Yanashita.
Yanashita creates many utsushi works, particularly those based on Chojiro and Koetsu. Although utsushi can be described as copying, it is far more than simple imitation. By repeatedly retracing a form and contemplating the ideas of its original maker, the artist deepens his understanding and then uses that established style to express his own interpretation. It is a matter of deciding what to see in the original and what to give form to, making utsushi not an act of imitation but an independent expression of thought. Another fascinating aspect of utsushi is that, because it is created within an established stylistic framework, maker and user can share a common understanding of the tradition behind it. Keeping this in mind while looking at Yanashita’s work may offer yet another way to enjoy it.
As many of you know, he also creates a great number of works that are not utsushi. This exhibition will once again feature tea ware, flower vessels, sake ware, and tableware across a broad range of ceramic traditions and techniques, including Raku, Iga, Shigaraki, Korean-style ware, and Mino ware. We warmly invite you to visit!
