KATO Yasukage XIV 十四代加藤康景
H26.5 × W13 × D12 cm
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The beautiful Oribe and Shino glazes of the ceramicist Kato Yasukage XIV 十四代 加藤康影 (1964- 2012) demonstrates his great talent. Born in Aichi to two professional potters, Kato began his studies as a young man under Bizen Living National Treasure Yamamoto Toshu 山本陶秀 (1906- 1994), with whom he developed his own mentori (faceted) formal style. Together, his family's history and his apprenticeship provided a solid foundation on which he built a strong artistic practice, in one sense quite literally: Kato often used clay that had been prepared by his ancestors. This was special clay passed down for generations in his family, a tradition that Kato embraced by preparing clay for his own descendants.
Kato works in an iron-rich mountain clay that reacts to the heat of the kiln to produce luscious green colors in his Oribe glazes, and firey red in his red Shino glazes. The artist prefers a wood kiln, which is very difficult to control but produces beautiful results. Although Kato's life was tragically cut short by a car accident in 2012, his Oribe & Shino works continue to delight and inspire.