Artist Story
pottery
Tomonari Hashimoto
I mainly make sculptural art works out of ceramics. Most of my works are very big, and some are over two meters high. I use a method piling up strings of clay called hand-forming. Also, I impose it on myself to not to plane (cut) when forming. It is baked 3 times; when unglazed, then at 1000-1100℃ after being glazed, and then at 500℃ in carbonization fire (the unglazed process is lately omitted). The glaze melted during the 2 firing processes show several expressions in color and texture at the last carbonization fire process.
I will explain a little further about the firing process. The glaze include a lot of metalic oxide, and show several changes in color by the oxidation/reduction effect of fire. I use electric or gas ceramic art kiln during the firing process at 1000-1100℃. For the carbonization fire process, I pile up bricks around my art work and make a kiln outdoors, and fire with a gas burner. I stop the gas at 500℃, open the lid, and pour in chaffs. At this time, oxidation/reduction inside the kiln is mixed together, and the color or the glaze changes by the fire and smoke.
When making my art woks, by repeating very simple and primitive acts such as sculping and baking soil crust by hand-forming, I have been seeking for the invisible but definite existence and signs.
Influenced by my father, a sculptor, producing things have been familiar to me since I was a child. When choosing my major in the 3rd year of college, I chose ceramics just out of impure motive, by elimination. I then proceeded to Graduate School, and ended my long college life after receiving a master's degree n March, 2017. If I am asked if I like pottery, I find myself not being able to give an immediate answer, but at this moment I feel comfortable working with clay and burning it.
untitled
untitled
To me, the act of single-mindedly piling up and burning clay, is a time to restrain and face myself. In this somewhat frivolous and superficial modern society, I am hoping that my works will become a chance for people to stop for a moment to see through the essence of matters and to face oneself.
From the owner
When I first saw the works of Mr. Hashimoto, I felt a powerfulness that seemed like they were metal, and was strongly attracted by the extrinsic intensions of the producing process. I feel an interrogative attitude of a seeker, toward the mild-mannered Mr. Hashimoto. We are sometimes heart-stirred by Art works and we may be at a time that this sense is truly necessary. He is an artist we look forward to seeing what kind of path he will master.
ArtShop Tsukibae Owner,
Mayumi Miyanaga