Article: February 2025: Kato Takaya 40th Anniversary Ceramics Exhibition
February 2025: Kato Takaya 40th Anniversary Ceramics Exhibition
- The “Phantom Vessels” Born 500 Years Ago – Bringing the Beauty of Setoguro and Shino into the Present -
Exhibition Dates: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 → Sunday, February 23, 2025
Venue: Osaka Takashimaya, 6th Floor Art Gallery
Venue: Osaka Takashimaya, 6th Floor Art Gallery
Featured Works: Shino and Setoguro
About 500 years ago, in the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture, “Shino” and “Setoguro” were produced for only 30 years. Their unique beauty symbolizes Japan's aesthetic of “wabi-sabi” and holds special significance in the world of tea ceremony. Celebrating 40 years of ceramic artistry, potter Kato Takaya now brings these vessels back to life, guided by nature’s blessings and the flames of the kiln.
At this exhibition, some works will feature "titles", expressing the thoughts and landscapes imbued in each vessel.
Selected Works:
Shino Vase
Flame Resonance (En’in)
A Shino vase that seems to capture the roaring flames inside the kiln as they are. The brilliantly expressed fire color gives the entire vase a vibrant and powerful sense of life. The milky white that floats on the surface seems to carry the gentle afterglow of the flames.
A Shino vase that seems to capture the roaring flames inside the kiln as they are. The brilliantly expressed fire color gives the entire vase a vibrant and powerful sense of life. The milky white that floats on the surface seems to carry the gentle afterglow of the flames.
Shino Matcha Bowl
Winter Dawn (Tōgyō)
A piece reminiscent of a winter sunrise. The soft pink glaze exudes a beauty as if capturing the moment when the winter sky is tinted by the morning sun. The gentle curves and delicate shading evoke a snowy landscape, creating a sense of warmth that envelops your heart the moment you hold it.
A piece reminiscent of a winter sunrise. The soft pink glaze exudes a beauty as if capturing the moment when the winter sky is tinted by the morning sun. The gentle curves and delicate shading evoke a snowy landscape, creating a sense of warmth that envelops your heart the moment you hold it.
Setoguro Tea Bowl
Ink Blossom (Bokka)
The kairagi texture floating on the deep black glaze (oniita) resembles ink slowly spreading across paper, creating a unique expression on the vessel's surface. This distinctive texture can only emerge when the glaze composition, kiln temperature, and precise removal timing align perfectly. It is a piece that evokes the profound depth of Setoguro, woven together by “nature” and the “artist’s hand.”
The kairagi texture floating on the deep black glaze (oniita) resembles ink slowly spreading across paper, creating a unique expression on the vessel's surface. This distinctive texture can only emerge when the glaze composition, kiln temperature, and precise removal timing align perfectly. It is a piece that evokes the profound depth of Setoguro, woven together by “nature” and the “artist’s hand.”
Special Feature: “Couple's Time Set”
In the midst of busy daily life, we hope you can cherish quiet moments with your partner.
To express this sentiment, we have prepared the special “Couple's Time Set”, exclusively for this exhibition.
To express this sentiment, we have prepared the special “Couple's Time Set”, exclusively for this exhibition.
Limited to 3–4 sets each (10%–20% off)
- A special pair of works to accompany your time as a couple.
- Available only from the exhibited pieces.
Message from the Artist
The warmth and softness of Shino and Setoguro ware. The secret lies in the rare Mogusa clay from the Tōnō region of Gifu Prefecture.
Over tens of thousands of years, rainwater flowed through granite, and the power of nature slowly transformed the soil into something unique. This is nature’s gift, created through countless changes.
Crafts are often called “the beauty of utility,” and I believe their true charm resonates gradually as you touch and use them. Through Shino and Setoguro pieces, I hope you can experience the beauty and warmth brought by Mogusa clay.
In moments when you want to calm your mind or ease your worries, may time spent with these vessels bring quiet richness to your daily life. Each piece is crafted with this heartfelt intention.
