Hello everyone, how are you doing?
The other day, I visited Tamon Kaneshige's studio and received a collection of his works, primarily sake vessels.
These are pieces from his first firing in a climbing kiln using only his own work, which took place last year.
Tamon-sensei began learning the craft in earnest at the age of 27 from his father, [Sensei's Name].
Born and raised in a prestigious Bizen family, Tamon-sensei says that from a young age he had a vague sense that he too would eventually become a ceramic artist.
He expressed his gratitude for the know-how he naturally acquired while watching his father and his grandfather, Sozan-sensei, work, as well as for the high-quality clay that has been passed down since his grandfather's time.
Tamon-sensei says that the wheel is his favorite part of the pottery-making process.
He enjoys looking at antique pieces for reference, finding the coolness of their shapes and the playfulness of their spatula marks interesting; to him, these old things feel fresh and new.
He shared that he draws inspiration from such pieces and applies those insights when working on the potter's wheel.
While Tamon-sensei's forms evoke the style of [Sensei's Name], they are infused with a refined sharpness and possess a bold, spirited atmosphere.
It makes me feel that this will continue to develop as his own unique artistic identity.
The construction of the sake bottle spouts is truly excellent; they produce a refined sound when pouring and have a clean cut-off. He has masterfully acquired the techniques of sake vessel creation from his father, [Sensei's Name], who is famous as a great Bizen sake connoisseur.
In tomorrow's update at 20:00, I will introduce all the sake vessels that have just arrived.
I hope you will take a look, and thank you very much.
The climbing kiln (Maruyama kiln) currently used by [Sensei's Name] and Tamon-sensei.
The electric kiln (front) and gas kiln (back), said to have been used since the time of Sozan-sensei.