UPCOMING EXHIBITION

Born from Fire: The Art of Sajiro Tanaka, 87-year-old ceramic artist –”From the Jōmon period to the Future”

Period　October 17 (Thu) – October 23 (Wed), 2024

The Nippon Gallery is excited to announce the exhibition “From the Jomon Period to the Future: The Art of Sajiro Tanaka” from October 17 to 23, 2024. The exhibition will feature the renowned Karatsu ware ceramic artist Sajiro Tanaka. At 87 years old, Tanaka continues to dedicate himself to kiln firing at his Yamase Kiln, located deep in the mountains at 700 meters. For him, kiln firing is not merely part of the production process but a sacred ritual of facing nature and a personal battle. The element of chance born from the flames, combined with his reverence for nature, is imbued in his works, radiating a breathtaking beauty that captivates viewers.

Through his encounters with the ceramic artist Tokuro Kato and tea ceramic researcher Seizo Hayashiya, Tanaka has established a distinctive style that transcends traditional boundaries and is characterized by freedom and dynamism. His works reflect his way of life, where the fierce passion of the flames and the humility of surrendering to the laws of nature are seamlessly blended. His creations convey the vitality born from the interplay of nature’s power and human passion. Over more than 1,000 kiln firings, Mr. Tanaka has developed his philosophy and aesthetics. His kiln firings, lasting three days at temperatures of 1,300°C, are a spiritual ritual. The beauty of glazes shaped by chance and the unique textures created by the power of the flames are evident in his works, embodying a profound unity between nature and humanity.

The exhibition will feature numerous new works that embody Tanaka’s accumulated skills and spirit. Using clay dug personally from the Yamase kiln site, Tanaka has crafted pieces with a delicate touch and unique colors, achieving a perfect balance between calmness and strength, spontaneity, and control. The exhibited items, including tea bowls, vases, and pagodas, are rooted in the tradition of old Karatsu ware while also embracing a contemporary sensibility, manifesting Tanaka’s pursuit of “Tozen Ichinyo” – the unity of pottery and Zen. These works evoke the passage of time from the past to the future and will deeply move all who visit.

Tanaka’s works are not merely ceramics; they are a fusion of the forces of nature and human passion, created through a life-risking engagement with fire. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to connect not only with his works but also with the very life that gave rise to them and to experience the message they convey to the future.

We warmly invite you to experience the passion of Sajiro Tanaka, who continues to walk alongside fire and impart the message of the future through his works. Don’t miss this exceptional chance to witness the world of Sajiro Tanaka’s passion and creativity.

About Sajiro Tanaka

Sajiro Tanaka was born in 1937 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. In 1960, he began Zen training at Engakuji Temple in Kamakura. In 1965, he participated in the excavation of Jomon and Yayoi pottery and began hand-building and open-air firing. During his Zen training, he became deeply immersed in the practices of tea ceremony, flower arranging (ikebana), Southern School painting (nanga), and Chinese poetry. In 1975, he took lay ordination at Eiheiji Temple in Fukui Prefecture, receiving the teaching of “Tozen Ichinyo” (Unity of Pottery and Zen). In the same year, he built a climbing kiln in Karatsu, Handa. Later, he built another climbing kiln in the old kiln site of Yamase, where he continues. In 1979, he received instruction and guidance through Zen discussions with Kato Tokuro. After excavating ancient kiln sites in various regions of Korea in 1997, he built the Kizan Kiln in Ulsan. Since 2007, through his association with art critic and tea master Seizo Hayashiya, he has established his unique “Chazen Ichimi” (Unity of Tea and Zen) style. In 2023, he appeared on NHK’s “Religion Hour” and spoke about “Tozen Ichinyo.” Since 1980, he has held solo exhibitions at venues across Japan, including Shibuya Kuroda Toen, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, and Fukuoka Mitsukoshi. He has also held exhibitions abroad, including in Seoul, Geneva, and New York.