Japanese Ceramicist Akira Shimojo about his willingness to challenge himself
Meet one of our first 2 Guest Artists on sentomono: Akira Shimojo, 25 from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Shimojo is currently a Master of Arts student at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he is graduating in Ceramic Craft next year. His everyday tableware is created with great love for detail and a passion for the material.
sentomonoๅใฎใฒในใใขใผใใฃในใ2ๅใฎใใกใฎ1ๅใใ็ดนไปใใพใใ็ฅๅฅๅท็ๅบ่บซใฎไธๆขๆใใ๏ผ25ๆญณ๏ผใงใใไธๆขใใใฏ็พๅจใๆฑไบฌ่่กๅคงๅญฆๅคงๅญฆ้ข็พ่ก็ ็ฉถ็งไฟฎๅฃซ่ชฒ็จใซๅจ็ฑใใฆใใใๆฅๅนดใซใฏ้ถ่ธใๅฐๆปใๅๆฅญใใไบๅฎใงใใๅฝผใฎๆฅๅธธ็ใช้ฃๅจใฏใ็ดฐ้จใธใฎๅคงใใชๆๆ
ใจ็ด ๆใธใฎๆ
็ฑใซใใฃใฆ็ใฟๅบใใใฆใใพใใ
What is your history with craft and ceramics?
My family was an ordinary Japanese family with no connection to crafts or ceramics. My father is a philosophy professor at a university and my mother is a housewife.
Maybe my first encounter with craft was in primary school. I found and collected pottery shards and stone tools from the Jomon period in the field in front of my house. For me, back then, Jomon pottery shards were common things that I could pick up in the fields. I remember I didnโt think anything too special about them and used them to fill in the bottom of flowerpots. Now, when I look back, I regret I didnโt collect them.
My first encounter with hands on ceramics was in my high school art class. Even then, I annoyed the teacher by saying I wanted to make a teapot!
ๅทฅ่ธๅใ้ถ็ฃๅจใจใฎ้ขใใใซใคใใฆๆใใฆใใ ใใใ
็งใฎๅฎถใฏใๅทฅ่ธใ้ถ่ธใจใฏ็ก็ธใฎใใใๆฎ้ใฎๆฅๆฌใฎๅฎถๅบญใงใใใ็ถใฏๅคงๅญฆใงๅฒๅญฆใฎๆๆใใใฆใใใๆฏใฏๅฐๆฅญไธปๅฉฆใๅทฅ่ธใจใฎๅบไผใใฏใใใใใใใๅฐๅญฆ็ใฎ้ ใใใใใพใใใๅฎถใฎๅใฎ็ใง็ธๆๆไปฃใฎๅๅจ็ใ็ณๅจใ่ฆใคใใฆใฏ้ใใฆใใพใใใๅฝๆใฎ็งใซใจใฃใฆใ็ธๆๅๅจใฎ็ ด็ใฏ้ๅใงๆพใใๆฎ้ใฎใใฎใงใใใใใพใ็นๅฅใชใใจใฏ่ใใใๆคๆจ้ขใฎๅบใๅใใใฎใซไฝฟใฃใฆใใ่จๆถใใใใพใใไปๆใใฐใ้ใใฆใใใฐใใใฃใใจๅพๆใใฆใใพใใ็งใๅใใฆ้ถ่ธใซ่งฆใใใฎใฏใ้ซๆ กใฎ็พ่กใฎๆๆฅญใงใใใใใฎๆใใใใฃใผใใใใไฝใใใ๏ผใใจ่จใฃใฆๅ ็ใๅฐใใใพใใใ
You study crafts at University. Is there a reason you chose this path over learning as an apprentice from a Master craftsman?
I originally went into art because I liked drawing. I didn't want to be a painter, but a manga artist. I loved "Naruto." I really enjoyed the black-and-white expression composed of strong and weak lines like in Japanese manga. That is primarily why I went to an art school and not to learn from a master craftsman.
In college, I was torn between blacksmithing and ceramics. I was torn between the two because both allow me to touch materials intuitively. In the end, I chose ceramics based on my intuition. Now I believe that my intuition was correct.
I think it was a better choice for me than being apprenticed to a master because at this school I can freely try what I want to do.
ๅคงๅญฆใงใฏๅทฅ่ธใๅญฆใฐใใฆใใใใใงใใญใๅธซๅ ใซๅผๅญๅ ฅใใใใฎใงใฏใชใใใใฎ้ใ้ธใใ ็็ฑใฏไฝใงใใใใ๏ผ
ๅ ใ ใ็ตตใๆใใฎใๅฅฝใใง็พ่กใฎ้ใซ้ฒใฟใพใใใ็ตตๆใใซใชใใใใใใงใฏใชใใๆผซ็ปๅฎถใซใชใใใใฃใใใงใใ"NARUTO "ใๅฅฝใใ ใฃใใใงใใๆฅๆฌใฎๆผซ็ปใฎใใใชๅผทๅผฑใฎใใ็ทใงๆงๆใใใใขใใฏใญใฎ่กจ็พใใจใฆใๅฅฝใใงใใใใ ใใใ่ทไบบใใใซๆใใใฎใงใฏใชใใ็พๅคงใซ้ฒๅญฆใใใใงใใๅคงๅญฆใงใฏใ้ๅถใจ้ถ่ธใฎใฉใกใใใ้ธใณใพใใใใฉใกใใ็ดๆ็ใซ็ด ๆใซ่งฆใใใใจใใงใใใฎใงใ่ฟทใฃใใฎใงใใใ็ตๅฑใ้ถ่ธใ้ธใณใพใใใ็ตๅฑใ็ดๆใง้ถ่ธใ้ธใณใพใใใไปใจใชใฃใฆใฏใใใฎ็ดๆใฏๆญฃใใใฃใใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใใใฎๅญฆๆ กใงใฏใ่ชๅใฎใใใใใใจใซ่ช็ฑใซๆๆฆใงใใใฎใงใๅธซๅ ใซๅผๅญๅ ฅใใใใใใใใ้ธๆใ ใฃใใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใ
Creative Process: How do you begin a Project? What does your process look like from the Idea to the finished piece?
For me, the process of making the work is the challenge and the art. My production starts with a willingness to challenge myself. I enjoy researching clays I have not yet used and building kilns with unusual processes.
I always start with a sketch of the planned product. Once I have a clear image, I begin to work. However, while actually touching the clay, there are times when I feel that there is a shape that would be best for the material. In those cases, I give priority to my intuition. After placing the work in the kiln, I leave it to the flames. I let go of my attachment to the image of the finished product. Then I can honestly enjoy the finished piece.
I am currently working at the Toride site of Tokyo University of the Arts, where I am researching the clay from the Toride site. Unlike the clay from famous ceramic sites in Japan, this clay is very difficult to handle. But that is why it is so much fun.
Unlike industrial products, each handmade vessel is a little bit different in size and distortion. Sometimes it is difficult to use them, but I don't throw them away just because they are difficult to use, because they are like my own children. I think it is a pleasure that can only be experienced by using something you made yourself. However, the ultimate goal is to enjoy good food and good tea. So the finished pieces are often simple tableware and utensils.
ใฏใชใจใคใใฃใใชใใญใปใน ใใญใธใงใฏใใฏใฉใฎใใใซๅงใใใฎใงใใ๏ผใขใคใใขใใไฝๅๅฎๆใพใงใฎใใญใปในใฏใฉใฎใใใชใใฎใงใใ๏ผ
็งใซใจใฃใฆใไฝๅๅถไฝใฎใใญใปในใใใๆๆฆใงใใใ่ธ่กใชใฎใงใใ็งใฎๅถไฝใฏใ่ชๅ่ช่บซใซๆๆฆใใๆฐๆใกใใๅงใพใใพใใใพใ ไฝฟใฃใใใจใฎใชใ็ฒๅใ็ ็ฉถใใใใๅคใใฃใใใญใปในใฎ็ชฏใไฝใฃใใใใใฎใๆฅฝใใใใงใใใพใใๅฟ ใๅฎๆใฎใคใกใผใธใในใฑใใใใพใใๅฎๆใฎใคใกใผใธใๅบใพใฃใใใๅถไฝใซๅใๆใใใพใใใใ ใๅฎ้ใซๅใ่งฆใฃใฆใใใใกใซใใใฎๅใซใฏใใฎๅฝขใใใใชใจๆใใใจใใใใพใใใใฎใจใใฏ็ดๆใๅชๅ ใใพใใ็ชฏใซๅ ฅใใใใใใจใฏ็ใซใพใใใใใใฎใจใใๅฎๆใคใกใผใธใธใฎๅท็ใฏๆจใฆใพใใใใใใใจใ็ด ็ดใซๅบๆฅไธใใใๆฅฝใใใใใงใใ
ไปใ็งใฏๆฑไบฌ่่กๅคงๅญฆใฎๅๆ้บ่ทกใงใๅๆ้บ่ทกใฎๅใฎ็ ็ฉถใใใฆใใพใใใใฎๅใฏใๆฅๆฌใฎๆๅใช้ถ็ฃๅจ้บ่ทกใฎๅใจ้ใฃใฆใๆฑใใใจใฆใ้ฃใใใใงใใใงใใใ ใใใใๆฅฝใใใใงใใๅทฅๆฅญ่ฃฝๅใจใฏ้ใใๆไฝใใฎๅจใฏๅคงใใใๆญชใฟใใฒใจใคใฒใจใคใๅฐใใใค้ใใไฝฟใใซใใใใจใใใใพใใใไฝฟใใซใใใใใจ่จใฃใฆๆจใฆใใใใชใใฎใฏใๆใๅญใฎใใใชใใฎใ ใใใงใใ่ชๅใงไฝใฃใใใฎใไฝฟใใใจใงใใๅณใใใชใๅใณใใใใจๆใใใใงใใใจใฏใใใๆ็ต็ใซใฏใใใใๆ็ใใใใใใ่ถใๆฅฝใใใใจใ็ฎ็ใงใใใ ใใใๅบๆฅไธใใฃใไฝๅใฏใทใณใใซใช้ฃๅจใ้ๅ ทใๅคใใงใใญใ
What is the most challenging part of your work?
Kiln firing. I always think about firing. When I am making the clay, turning the wheel and chopping the wood. And most of the time, I end up with something completely different from what I imagined. That is the most challenging and interesting part.
Wood-fired kilns are simple. All you do is burn wood to raise the temperature. However, simplicity is the deepest aspect of the process. There are many factors to consider, such as the type of wood used, the humidity of the ground, and the wind. But as long as the temperature rises, that's all that matters. We must also understand that we cannot completely control the flame. This does not mean that we give up controlling the flame. It is just the way it is.
ไปไบใฎใใใใใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ
็ชฏ็ใใงใใใใคใ็ผๆใฎใใจใ่ใใฆใใพใใ็ฒๅใไฝใฃใฆใใใจใใใใใใๅใใฆใใใจใใๆจใๅใฃใฆใใใจใใใใใฆใใใใฆใใฎๅ ดๅใๆณๅใใฆใใใใฎใจใฏใพใฃใใ้ใใใฎใใงใใใใใพใใใใใไธ็ชใใใใใใใฃใฆ้ข็ฝใใจใใใงใใ
่ช็ชฏใฏใทใณใใซใงใใ่ชใ็ใใใฆๆธฉๅบฆใไธใใใ ใใงใใใใใใใทใณใใซใงใใใใใใซๅฅฅใๆทฑใใไฝฟใ่ชใฎ็จฎ้กใๅฐ้ขใฎๆนฟๅบฆใ้ขจใชใฉใ่ๆ ฎใในใ่ฆ็ด ใฏใใใใใใใพใใใใใใๆธฉๅบฆใไธใใใฐใใใงใใใฎใงใใใพใใ็ใๅฎๅ จใซใณใณใใญใผใซใใใใจใฏใงใใชใใใจใ็่งฃใใฆใใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใใใงใใ็ใใณใณใใญใผใซใใใใจใ่ซฆใใใใใงใฏใใใพใใใใใ ใใใใใใใฎใชใฎใงใใ
Do you consider your work to be traditional Japanese or more modern? What influences your work?
I am thinking about the future, not the past. If we don't do something about it, beautiful nature will be lost due to the foolish actions of humans. In the past, the Japanese were grateful to nature and lived with it. Today's Japanese have forgotten that spirit and have become arrogant. It is a very sad thing.
We have to protect nature for the future, which is why I am studying the past when people still lived with nature. I want to combine this with modern technology and propose a new way of coexisting with nature for the future. For this reason, I believe that my work is both traditional and contemporary.
ใ่ช่บซใฎไฝๅใฏไผ็ตฑ็ใชๆฅๆฌ็ใชใใฎใงใใใใใใจใใใฃใจ็พไปฃ็ใชใใฎใงใใ๏ผใใชใใฎไฝๅใซๅฝฑ้ฟใไธใใฆใใใใฎใฏไฝใงใใ๏ผ
็งใฏ้ๅปใงใฏ็กใๆชๆฅใฎใใจใ่ใใฆใใพใใใใฎใพใพใงใฏ็พใใ่ช็ถใไบบ้ใฎๆใใช่ก็บใซใใฃใฆ็กใใชใฃใฆใใพใใพใใๆใๆฅๆฌไบบใฏ่ช็ถใซๆ่ฌใ่ช็ถใจๅ ฑใซ็ใใฆใใพใใใไปใฎๆฅๆฌไบบใฏใใฎๅฟใๅฟใๅฒๆ ขใซใชใฃใฆใใพใใใใใฏใจใฆใๆฒใใไบใงใใ็ง้ใฏๆชๆฅใซ่ช็ถใๆฎใใชใใใฐใชใใพใใใใใฎใใใซ็งใฏไบบ้ใใพใ ่ช็ถใจๅ ฑใซ็ใใฆใใ้ๅปใฎไบใๅๅผทใใฆใใพใใใใใฆ็พไปฃใฎใใฏใใญใธใผใจ่ๅใใใฆใๆฐใใ่ช็ถใจใฎๅ ฑๅญใฎไปๆนใๆชๆฅใซๅใใฆๆๆกใใใใฎใงใใ
ใใฎใใใซ็งใฎไฝๅใฏไผ็ตฑ็ใงใใใ็พไปฃ็ใงใใใในใใ ใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใ
Tell us about your favourite object you have at home. What is special about it?
'Mitch'. He is a plant. He is my best friend.
Mitch is a Euphorbia pineapple corn, which I bought seven years ago at a home improvement center after falling in love with it at first sight. Mitch was with me when I was first accepted to college and started living on my own. He is sensitive to cold and had to be trimmed several times in the winter because his roots rotted. That is why Mitch is so small now.
When he is healthy I put him out in the sun every morning and water him occasionally. He does not talk or dance. However, when Mitch is weak, I am constantly worried about him. My greatest happiness is that Mitch is healthy and beautiful green.
ใใชใใฎๅฎถใซใใใๆฐใซๅ ฅใใฎๅ็ฉใๆใใฆใใ ใใใใฉใฎใใใช็นใ็นๅฅใงใใ๏ผ
ใใใใใๅฝผใฏๆค็ฉใงใใๅฝผใฏ็งใฎ่ฆชๅใงใใ
ใใใใฏใ7ๅนดๅใซใใผใ ใปใณใฟใผใงไธ็ฎๆใใใฆ่ฒทใฃใใฆใผใใฉใซใใขใฎใใคใใใใซใณใผใณใงใใ็งใๅคงๅญฆใซๅๆ ผใใไธไบบๆฎใใใๅงใใ้ ใใใใใจไธ็ทใงใใใๅฏใใซๅผฑใใๅฌใฏๆ นใ่ ใฃใฆไฝๅบฆใใใชใใณใฐใใใใใ ใใไปใใใใใฏใจใฆใๅฐใใใใงใใๅ ๆฐใชๆใฏๆฏๆๆฅๅใซๅบใใฆใๆใ ๆฐดใใใใฆใใพใใใใในใใชใใใ่ธใใใใชใใใใใใใใใใๅผฑใใจใ็งใฏใใคใๅฟ้ ใงใใพใใพใใใใใใใๅ ๆฐใง็พใใ็ท่ฒใใใฆใใใใจใใ็งใฎไธ็ชใฎๅนธใใงใใ
