Ms. Kanako Nakamura's tableware blends seamlessly into the everyday landscape from the moment you pick it up. Her playful pieces are sure to bring a warm sparkle to your everyday life.
Ms. Nakamura's turning point into a ceramic artist was unexpectedly modest. She heard from a high school friend that she was attending a pottery class. Ms. Nakamura decided to try pottery without much thought, and was instantly captivated by the feel of the clay. The tranquility and exhilaration of creating shapes. From that day on, his everyday life, which she had previously taken for granted, began to take on a new color.
Encouraged by the support she received from the prefecture for learning pottery, she decided to submit her resignation to her company. It took only six months from the pottery experience to her retirement and embarking on a new path.
She says the appeal of pottery is that "the answer is never clear until the very end." No matter how hard you try, you never know the outcome until the moment you open the kiln door. This sense of tension is what keeps her passionate about her work, even today.
That is why we do not rush to reach the perfect form, and even failures are used as a stepping stone to the next step. The time spent in this way gives the vessel a quiet depth.
People using tableware in a free-spirited way on social media or in our daily lives. It get inspiration from these and think, "If it's used like this, maybe it would be better to do it like this," and reflect that in our designs. The core of our creations is "tableware that is just half a step ahead of the user." I want our tableware to be something that doesn't stray too far from everyday life, but that makes you feel just a little bit special every time you use it...that's the idea that goes into our creations.
"I think there are many different craftspeople out there, but I always look at the customer and decide what to make," says Nakamura. Rather than emphasizing self-expression or technique, he always imagines the time the user will spend with the piece. I feel that this sincerity is what connects to the gentleness that resides in his pottery.
She started making the sweets series because his customers often used them to put sweets on them. The motifs and designs of sweets and fruits are surprisingly realistic!
Apparently, even while making it, she fantasizes about how delicious it will taste!
Itchin painting (a technique in which decorative clay is squeezed out using a dropper-like tool) is done by painting with white clay, then bisque firing, and finally painting and firing to complete the work.
The gradation of the glaze enhances the delicious look.
Even asking yourself, "What should I put on this dish?" becomes a fun moment. Your everyday snacks become small treats, adding a touch of elegance to your dining table. These dishes are made to be used, not to be displayed, and they are sure to add comfort and color to your everyday life.
Ms. Kanako Nakamura's works are available here
