The works on display were designed by Sogetsu School ikebana artists Karyo Naito, Reibi Goto, and Kako Hirai and produced by porcelain artists Shinji Terauchi, Kozaburo Harada of Zuiho Kiln, Hiroyuki Tokunaga of Tokko Kiln, and Yoshiyasu Harada of Kichiemon Porcelain, all owners of some of the kilns that make up ARITA PLUS. Together, they had a series of meetings to design and produce these vessels for flowers. Shinji said that this was the first time for ARITA PLUS to attempt such a project. “Arita ware, which is usually used for tableware, tends to pursue thinness, but the ikebana artists of the Sogetsu School asked us to make it thicker. A thin vase lacks a sense of stability when flowers are arranged. In the case of works produced through haidei casting, if one tries to make it thicker, the mold absorbs too much water and becomes heavy, making it difficult to handle. Still, there were times when the pieces cracked while the base material was drying. It was difficult,” he says. After a great deal of trial and error, the finished works are of a high level of quality. The outstanding techniques of Arita ware enabled the artists to create a variety of new expressions, and the flowers and vessels emerged in splendid harmony.

■ Related Articles & Websites

– “ARITA×SOGETSU Research Exhibition” Official Website
https://as.crc.saga-u.ac.jp/

– Ikebana Sogetsu Official Website
https://www.sogetsu.or.jp/e/

– Artist Profile: Shinji Terauchi
https://www.kogeistandard.com/artist/shinji-terauchi/