We talked to Kentaro Murayama of Kentaro Kiln, which is attractive to the creation of a unique presence that emerges the individuality of soil in a simple shape.
[1] About the trigger of pursuing the path of crafts, your own background, the history and formation of the workshop
The Kentaro kiln of Karatsu ware in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, is located on the middle of the Karatsu symbol, Kagamiyama, and you can overlook the Rainbow Matsubara and Karatsu Bay from the studio.
Murayama, born in Karatsu City, graduated from Arita Ceramics University, studied under Kiyomi Kawakami, and opened independently.
Mr. Murayama, who cares carefully with the connection with the climate, says that he digs a stone with his own hands, crushes it with a hammer to make clay, and then makes a pottery. Furthermore, the glaze applied to the surface of the pottery is handmade from the ash of firewood buried with a wood stove during the winter. I do everything from the ingredients of the pottery to the construction of the bowl with my own hands. Nowadays, there are few potters that are digging and making clay in the country.
Mr. Murayama, who says, "I want to do what I can do in this area as much as possible," says that in the place where the soil is collected, he has brought out the simple texture of the soil, and continues to make a bowl that feels warm even without extra decoration. Masu.
[2] What we value and commitment in the work production, what we want to convey through the work and what we want to fulfill
Mr. Murayama is exploring every day to repeat research on soil and glaze, based on the traditional techniques of Karatsu, to create a unique texture. Since all ingredients for containers are obtained from nature, the pottery starts by digging the soil by walking down the mountains in front of Hizen.
"Because it is necessary to determine the purification method suitable for each soil and the firing temperature in the kiln is necessary in detail, it is inefficient and inefficient. It is my job to observe the "secret of things" hidden in the technology and take care of the soil as much as possible. "
Mr. Murayama's manufacturing values it is a "obedient vessel that blends into everyday life", and the shape is as simple as possible so that the owner can keep using it without getting tired.
"In Japan, the boundary between art and products is ambiguous in Japan, but I think Karatsu ware must be a product. It must be a tool. "
Rather than simulating the Karatsu, which has been loved for a long time as a daily vessel, it is exploring the "modern beauty" that is close to the chefs and food culture of the chefs that together in the present era. Masu.
[3] What we are trying to inherit traditional technology and culture and what we want to challenge in the future
Murayama says that when the vertical axis is divided into a tradition, and the horizontal axis is divided as a craft, "the vertical tradition is the axis of manufacturing that connects to the future from the past."
"I would like to prove that even if it is a past technology, if you think carefully and practice it, it will still be accepted. On the other hand, if the horizontal axis does not share the sense with the people who are currently living, You can't use it, so you need to have a good balance of the vertical tradition.
Beautiful tools that can be used from modern times to the future will be created every day from Mr. Murayama's hands that dig the soil and face firewood fire and kurokuro.
You can see the product here ↓
See the products of "Kentaro Kiln"
At Serendouce Crafts, JapanWe propose modern beauty and comfort living with traditional crafts.
You can also see the work from Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/serendouce_crafts_/