The New Year Special Exhibitio
Art of Kyoto
Kyo/Kiyomizu Ware

To celebrate the arrival of 2008, we are pleased to present the New Year Special Exhibition entitled “Art of Kyoto − Kyo/Kiyomizu Ware : At the Intersection of Tradition and Evolution.” Like the last year’s “Colors of Kyoto - Tradition and Flamboyance in Various Shades,” a Kyoto exhibition that included Japanese screens, made by Kyoto artisans using the traditional cabinet-making techniques, and Noh masks, this year’s exhibition also focuses on Kyoto and its art. This time, we chose Kyo/Kiyomizu Ware, famous for its sophisticated elegance, high level of creativity and superb techniques.

Of all ceramic wares, Kiyomizu Ware (Kiyomizu-yaki) stands out with its combination of Japanese aesthetics and high level of design sophistication. Chisato Taniguchi, the featured artist for this exhibition, is a young ceramic artist devoted to establishing her own style (she calls it “color”) throughout the entire creative process − from designing to glazing and baking. Her work shows certain gentleness and sensitivity unique to women while transmitting the energy and verb of a talented, highly motivated young artist, male or female, on the rise. Always eager to broaden her possibility as an artist, Chisato, in addition to painting and dying techniques, now employs “scratch-off” technique as well. The result, woodblock print-like designs using lines and curves found in nature such as plants and flowers as main motif, allows Chisato to create her own visual realm.
The fusion of traditional techniques and modern ideas (her latest works reflect the influence of her recent Italian trip), Chisato, through her works, provides a peek into the future − and endless possibilities − of Kyo/Kiyomisu Ware.

Tatsuo Sagane enjoys self-sustaining life, living in a mountain village in northern Kyoto where he grows tea, wheat and soba (buckwheat). During summer, Tatsuo even dyes his own clothes. At his 10,000-sq. ft. lodge/studio, he owns a specially-built wood-fired kiln, which he uses to produce all his work. Although his works are not Kyo/Kiyomizu Ware in a strict sense, the design that is both traditional and modern more than qualifies to represent and carry on Kyoto tradition.

The exhibition also features several other Kyo/Kiyomizu Ware artists whose mission is to keep the tradition alive without being overly traditional. Please join us at the Intersection of tradition and evolution. The exhibition runs through 1/26/2008 (Sat).

NYCoo Gallery