118th Industrial Ceramic Arts Division – Winning Works

Mayor of Arita Town Award

Soumenbachi Set (Tadashi Kawamura), Saga Prefecture

I drew blue sea waves on the Soumen cup and the Tsuyu cup that liken to a goldfish bowl. I designed to create a cool and fresh feeling by adding shades to the goldfish on the inside.

Sometsuketsuru Shippou Hanagatazara (Hiroyuki Hashiguchi (Yuu) Shingama), Saga Prefecture

I combined the seven lucky charms and the Tsuru Karakusa that stand for growth and prosperity on a plate imitating old ceramics.

This is “Reiwa” Sometsuke porcelain on which you can place Japanese・Western・Chinese cuisine.

Yukiyodzuki Egawari Go Sun Hirazara (Yuusuke Fukuda (Fukujugama)), Saga Prefecture

The snow at night is dancing in the wind shining in the moonlight and the shapes of weeds and animals are faintly visible in the back. I laid traditional patterns of animals and plants on top of the matt black glaze, and put silver colors on top of that, symbolizing the snow in the moonlight.

Kindjihakuyuu “Shinshoku” (Yoshiyasu Harada) , Saga Prefecture

The erosion into the area, the strength of nature in form of erosions, though slowly, will for good or bad turn things that were there before into new “colors”.

If there are even small changes happening to the hearts, pain and thoughts of people by influences in people`s surroundings, I thought I would try to express those as simple and beautiful as possible as the beginning of the erosion of new colors.

April 7^th, 2022

Zefun Che (Chief Examiner)

Problems such as the still evolving Corona pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and climate change threaten our lives and health, bringing big changes to our lives in general. The artists produce sustainable things, having a sense of social responsibility on the necessity towards the circulation and they are working on the implementation of such a system.

Against that background, the 118^th Arita International Ceramics Competition saw 48 entries from 44 different exhibitors. The number of pieces has decreased compared to last time and the time before that and due to the effects of Corona, it was not possible to submit pieces of art from abroad. However, many of the pieces gave the feeling of a high level of quality that was based on a direct look on the situation of the times. Also, we felt spirits worthy of the 400-years history of Arita Ware from the pieces that were converted so that the technology and expression of tradition would match the times.

 The winner of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award “Hyouseiji Kumibachi” with its pattern of countless vertical lines applied on the outside of the bowl made one feel the magical image like a grove that comes in sight on a foggy lake

 As for the winner of the Governor of Saga Prefecture Award “sizqu”, the water drop pattern that was delicately painted on the edges of the plate with slipware was characteristic and the mixture of dark brown and ceramic blue overglaze lets one image the background colors seen through drops of water. It matches the faint turquoise color over the whole plate well and gives it a beautiful and rich expression. It was a piece that makes one actually want to put food on it and use it.

 The winner of the Mayor of Arita Town Award “Somenbachi Set” is a piece for which the combination of the balance of the white parts and the shape of the goldfish that were drawn using traditional dyeing and painting technologies with the expression of an energetic feeling on the outside is beautiful. The drawing-style of the waves of blue sea on the edges of the cups conveys thoroughness.

 The Arita International Ceramics Competition that once started with the aim for competition in technology and increase in knowledge does not come to a halt at the development of technology but also holds the expectation of constantly developing as a place for expression leading the living to a more ample direction by contemplating the life of the user, expanding creativity through perception of design, and aesthetically proposing the beauty of utility.

Also, I sincerely hope that through this Arita International Ceramics Competition, young artists will take over the tradition of ceramics production while encouraging each other, and be able to advance the craftsmanship.