Shoji Hamada

 

Shoji Hamada (1894-1978) was a Japanese potter whose works created a new artistic movement that influenced the 20th century. Hamada officially began pottery in his ceramics course at the Tokyo Industrial College (now renamed the Tokyo Institute of Technology) and landed a job at the Ceramic Testing Institute in Kyoto once he graduated. After gaining an interest in and forming a friendship with artist Bernard Leach, he assisted Bernard with pottery in Cornwall, England, for three years. The two artists’ influence on each other catalyzed the Mingei movement—a return to making art through the hands without materials—in pottery. The word “Mingei” means “folk art” and was derived from The Unkown Craftsman by Soetsu Yanagi, reflecting the belief that “real art” was made by an anonymous craftsman, someone who was not consciously attempting to make “art.” Following this philosophy led Hamada to create beautiful pottery without his name on them, such as the picture chosen for this assignment. Thanks to the movement, Hamada founded the Japanese Folkcraft Association in 1926. Although Hamada didn’t want fame, the Japanese government named him a “Living National Treasure,” and several museums have his works to continue his legacy.

I enjoy this art piece by Hamada—titled ”Plate, kaki glaze with wax resist brushwork”—because of the design and colors on the plate. The color contrast between the copper and cream makes the plate stand out and is pleasing to the eye. I also like the black outlining the designs; it looks like shadows and gives it more depth. Lastly, I like the difference between the structure and shape of each “swirl” on the plate.