Ichikawa Toru (*1973)

Modern celadon sake cup (guinomi) by ceramic artist Ichikawa Toru. Toru, born 1973 in Tōkyō, is a sculptor, who decided to become an apprentice to famous Bizen potter Kakurezaki Ryūichi (*1953) between 2011-2015. Kakurezaki's influence on Toru's work becomes especially clear when considering the form of his sake cup. The bold, rock-like shape, rests on a flat base. The vessel's wall is half cut half pulled and shaped with a knife. The rough clay has a cracked, complex textured surface in which the molten celadon glaze found its way. However, this works highlight is a stunning, large single glaze drop that sits on the base of the hexagonally shaped body. Just above this part, Toru additionally decorated the cup with gold and a few red pigments, which gives the work a very modern twist.

Ichikawa Toru is working freely between modernity and tradition, using old materials and combining them liberally in a new way. By shattering the boundaries of traditional Japanese pottery techniques, he is creating a rich landscape and give his objects a sculpture like appearance. By doing so, he is also questioning the already thin line between arts and crafts in Japanese pottery in a new interesting way.

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