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Jump to Photo Tour Read Japan Times story To celebrate its first anniversary, the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum has put together an ambitious exhibition titled Leaders of Contemporary Japanese Ceramics - Exploring Techniques and Forms for the New Century, from April 28 until June 17, 2001 In Japan, where there are thousands of professional potters, it is a daunting task to choose who would fit as a "leader" amongst all those qualified. What makes a leader in ceramic art anyway? Expounding traditions? Creating new ones? Simply making shocking works? A good political alignment? There will always be some debate and as with the "is it art or craft question" there may be some consensus but never a clear-cut answer. This exhibition is no different when it comes to the word leader. It was up to curator Kazuko Todate (Toe-da-tay) to make those tough choices. In the opening statements in the exhibition catalog, museum director Hasebe Mitsuhiko writes: "We would like to commemorate the beginning of this new century with this exhibition which showcases the appeal of contemporary ceramics through 48 recent and new works by 20 artists who were born in the 1930s through the 1960s and are now at their prime." Well, yes and no is what I say - some are in their prime, some past it, and others haven't reached it yet. Contemporary here is referring to works that almost exclusively fall in the "art objects" realm (called "obuje" in Japanese). The artists are exploring their materials and souls at the same time to create something uniquely their own; a never-before seen obuje. No imitation of traditions here. This freedom allows for the creation of some stunning work and also work that will be forgotten within a few years. The twenty artists represented a wide range of styles, from the elegant chawan of Raku Kichizaemon VX to the gigantic welded forms of Saito Toshiju. Here is the list of participants in Japanese alphabetical order, together with my ranking of the work shown at the exhibition (ten high, one low): Artist Click artist name for more Item My Rank Photo Click thumbnail for larger photo Akiyama Yo primitive yet modern, strong 8 Itabashi Hiromi tusk-like hakuji forms; repetitive 5 Ito Kosho bubblegum colored mounds and some in long containers; obnoxious color 5 Inoue Masayuki pieced together 'cinder blocks' 6 Fukami Sueharu breathtaking 9 Kiyomizu Rokubee Vlll geometrical monotone forms 6 Koie Ryoji loud sounding records; Lotus Concert 6 Kuriki Tatsusuke geometrical illusionary vessels 9 Nagae Shigekazu delicate and refined forms 9 Nakaigawa Yuki large beige wall, bed 4 Not Available Nakamura Kinpei the Tokyo junkman; a great questioner of tradition 7 Nakashima Harumi pop-art that should be popped 5 Ogawa Machiko shimmering water-filled vessels 8 Raku Kichizaemon XV possibly the greatest Raku ever 9 Saito Toshiju grotesque 'dinosaur'; interesting technique, that's all 4 Shigematsu Ayumi pastel-colored organs 6 Shima Tsuyoshi large tree stump 8 Sugiura Yasuyoshi garden 'rock' installation and large wall 7 Tsuboi Asuka purple patterned stacked organic forms 7 Wada Morihiro angled and jagged vessels made in Shigaraki 8 Leaders of Contemporary Japanese Ceramics April 28 until June 17, 2001 Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum 2345 Kasama, Kasama-shi Ibaraki-ken, 309-1611 TEL: 0296-70-0011 See their web site (Japanese only):   www.edu.pref.ibaraki.jp/tougei/   LEARN MORE Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Japan Times Story, 2001   The Road to Kasama (Japan Times Story, 2003)   Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum (Daruma Magazine, 2003)   Photo Tour (22 Pics) from 2003 Exhibit at Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum   Special Japan Times Story: The Inaugural Exhibit of the Ibarabki Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Opened 2003   List of Museums in Ibaraki Prefecture, Plus Contact Data   Pottery Festivals in the Kanto / Ibaraki Area LEARN MORE ABOUT JAPAN'S AWARD SCENE For much more, please visit the PHOTO TOURS page. It includes links to other wonderful photo tours, including prior Japan Ceramic Society events, Living National Treasures, Contemporary Artists, How the Japanese Rank Their Potters, plus other visual resources. Awards Index -- Our Entire Lineup of Online Photo Tours