We visited Kisaragi Gama, a studio in Morioka city where Yuichi Yukinoura makes his ceramics. Yukinoura studied at the faculty of education at Iwate University, majoring in math, but took art as his second major and studied ancient paintings such as Fresco painting. After graduation, he took a special arts course. After that he studied ceramics in Nopporo, Hokkaido. He did an apprenticeship for one year under an artist, and after moving to Iwate when he was 25 years old, he has been making ceramics with his wife. Nakata commented, ”It looks soft” after looking at the tableware that is displayed in the studio. Yukinoura said, ”I do get comments like that, that it’s warm and such.” All the pieces that are displayed on the shelf look warm. It has a presence that makes you relaxed if you see them on the dining table.
Using materials from Iwate
Yukinoura told us, ”The true value of the ceramics is only apparent when they are being used.” .
”You have to be able to make day to day ware.” Sometimes he makes ”art pieces” in order to show at exhibitions, but for the most part, you have to have the feeling of and appreciation for daily ware. Yukinoura makes the ceramics using clay and ash from Iwate as much as he can. Mainly he uses clay from Tono, Hanamaki or Shiwa, and to make it stronger, he blends clay from Shigaraki. He changes the make up of the ash glaze blend using apple ash and applies several layers, giving it a glassy thickness and adding a unique texture. He also uses lacquer as a ceramic glaze. By lacquering on the surface of the fired piece and baking it, it does not absorb moisture when used.
He looks for materials from all over Iwate prefecture, always enjoying variations of the soil. He tries to make use of the different expressions each soil can give.
Nakata becomes absorbed in creating
Yukinoura makes his pieces using various techniques such as a spinning wheel, hand building and molds. We got to challenge making ceramics using ”tatara” method. ”Tatara” method is a way of making the clay into a slab. It has a different difficulty from the spinning wheel where you make a form one lump of clay.
You have to create the shape slowly, and little by little or else it will warp. And you have to apply pressure evenly when forming, otherwise there will be rebound when firing, another cause of deformation. Nakata makes the form slowly getting his advice. He was so absorbed that he ended up making 2 bowls and a plate. After the form is done, you draw patterns, and then the pieces are complete. We are looking forward to see the pieces come out from the kiln.
