Shoji Hamada was born in 1894 in Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Tokyo Technical College in 1916 when he then enrolled at Kyoto Ceramics Research. He traveled all over in order to learn about different ceramic traditions. He has used the poured glaze technique, where he creates patterns by pouring glaze over a plate with a ladle. He also traveled to the US with Soetsu Yanagi to teach ceramic workshops. He received the Tochigi Prefecture Culture Award and Minister of Education Award for Art. He was then designated a Living National Treasure in 1955. He had many other accomplishments and was considered one of the most influential potters of the 20th century.
Shoji Hamada Video- I found it interesting that Shoji Hamada had so many people working with him on the pots. I also thought it was funny how he would let his grandchildren paint his pots that were worth $5,000. The workers glaze Hamadas bowls and then give them to him to design. All of Hamada's materials used were natural. He would use wood ash, mashico rock, and rice husk ash are a few of the materials he would use to make glazes. He had many of his own design techniques such as the wax off resist technique that would make a design after the glaze was poured over it. My favorite part of the video was how they fired the pots in the kiln. They would put hundreds of pieces in at a time and they had to brick up the holes of the kiln when it was full. They would then put wet sand over the brick to keep the heat in. Hamada would give the Buddhist offering of sake and salt to the gods for good luck before he fired the kiln. There was a lot of hard work that went into making beautiful art.
Shoji Hamada was born in 1894 in Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Tokyo Technical College in 1916 when he then enrolled at Kyoto Ceramics Research. He traveled all over in order to learn about different ceramic traditions. He has used the poured glaze technique, where he creates patterns by pouring glaze over a plate with a ladle.
ReplyDeleteHe also traveled to the US with Soetsu Yanagi to teach ceramic workshops. He received the Tochigi Prefecture Culture Award and Minister of Education Award for Art. He was then designated a Living National Treasure in 1955. He had many other accomplishments and was considered one of the most influential potters of the 20th century.
Shoji Hamada Video- I found it interesting that Shoji Hamada had so many people working with him on the pots. I also thought it was funny how he would let his grandchildren paint his pots that were worth $5,000. The workers glaze Hamadas bowls and then give them to him to design. All of Hamada's materials used were natural. He would use wood ash, mashico rock, and rice husk ash are a few of the materials he would use to make glazes. He had many of his own design techniques such as the wax off resist technique that would make a design after the glaze was poured over it. My favorite part of the video was how they fired the pots in the kiln. They would put hundreds of pieces in at a time and they had to brick up the holes of the kiln when it was full. They would then put wet sand over the brick to keep the heat in. Hamada would give the Buddhist offering of sake and salt to the gods for good luck before he fired the kiln. There was a lot of hard work that went into making beautiful art.
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