Inlaying Clay in Clay,
“Ceramic Artist Moriyoshi Saeki”

Nature Depicted with Clay

Trees, mountains, and lakes pictured on ceramic ware. At a glance, it looks as if they were drawn by brush like a painting. But the pictures are actually created with clay. Lines are carved into the formed clay, and a different layer of clay is inlaid. In other words, nature is depicted by inlaying technique. And therefore, the works portray a warm and down-to-earth feeling.

There are any artists who produce inlay ceramic works, but most draw geometric patterns. There are hardly any artists who depict nature by this technique other than Moriyoshi Saeki, whom we interviewed, so this style has become synonyms with Saeki. Surprisingly, Saeki’s work does not just depict patterns of nature, but it creates a complete picture. He expresses even such as the obscure colors of dusk, and flickering of trees reflected on a lake. It took numerous research and study for Saeki to master this technique, and now has reached the realm of “masterpiece”.

Sense of Presence Expressed by Various Techniques

Many artists who create inlay works only use inlaying technique, but Saeki incorporates numbers of techniques such as drawing with bamboo spatulas called scraping and iron painting. Thus, special sense of presence emerges from his ceramic works.

Sasaki is also particular about texture. He says he is an aficionado of alcoholic beverages. He sometimes enjoys drinking with his own work. “Since they are used for drinking, I care about how it feels, like how it glides on the lips, and things like the right roughness on the surface that give nice bubbling effect on beer. I also pay attention to how the texture feels to the hand.” Saeki explains. By applying many techniques such as creating jaggedness with brush handle on his work, Saeki inserts affection into his ceramic works.

Reflecting Scenery in the Mind

After hearing his story, Nakata observed and experienced the carving process. Saeki takes a formed cup and vigorously drives in a carving knife. Instantly, trees sprout on a plain cup. Seeing this, Nakata asks, “You don’t make a draft?” “No, because what I draw here reflects scenery in mind. So, I don’t make any draft and carve what comes to my mind.” Accordingly, Nakata takes a caving knife but groans and cannot easily move his hands. So, he studies Saeki’s work and starts carving. Gradually, Nakata creates his own picture that appears as some butterflies are filtering. As a final step, Saeki laid clay into the caving and the completes the work. We can’ wait for the cup being fired and finished.