|
works by Murata Tetsu
green tea cups
sake flasks & cups
bowls & dishes
|
|
|
|
| |
Canvas of Porcelain
|
|
Murata Tetsu (Konosuke II)
Sometsuke Green Tea Cup
by Murata Tetsu |
"From
an early age, I watched my father make sometsuke every day, so I've
never been very interested in trying my hand at other ceramic styles.
His works inspired me, so naturally I fell into it myself."
Sitting at the doorway of a massive gas-fired kiln, Murata Tetsu talks
proudly of the man who nurtured an interest in painting and calligraphy
early in his son's life. Today, this second-generation sometsuke artist
takes the lessons from the past and applies them to another canvas - one
made of porcelain.
"Sometsuke", the style in which Mr. Murata works, has its roots in the
traditional charcoal ink and brush paintings originating in ancient
China. Over the centuries, it has come to typify the ceramics made in
the area below Kyoto's famous Kiyomizu Temple. Called Kiyomizu-yaki, it
is immediately recognizable by its intricate blue and white patterns. In
fact, a majority of the output from Mr. Murata's kiln, Rokusai-gama,
goes to serve the hundreds of ceramic shops and dealers surrounding
Kiyomizu Temple and the eastern-Kyoto environs.
 |
|
|
|
Form &
Process
Mr.
Murata's works are made from "hanjiki", or semi-porcelain - a mixture of
ground stone and clay from Kyushu. A small amount of a darker clay is
added, giving his works a distinctive, blue tone.
The blue glaze (called gosu) that Mr. Murata uses is a blend of cobalt
and manganese. The first underglaze application of gosu requires a
15-hour firing in a gas kiln at 1270°C, and the red, light-green and
yellow overglazes an additional five hours.
The unloading and reloading of the kiln is a tedious process requiring
the help of two apprentices.
|
|
 |
| 1931 |
Konosuke Murata
(father) born in Kyoto |
| 1963 |
Murata Tetsu born
in Kyoto |
| 1978 |
Exhibition of
father's sometsuke works held in Madrid, Spain |
| 1981 |
Murata Tetsu
begins apprenticeship under father at Rokusai-gama, Kyoto |
| 1991 |
Begins teaching
sometsuke on Kiyomizu-yaki wares.
Holds first solo exhibition at Takashimaya
Dept. Store Gallery (Kyoto); Sogo Dept. Store Gallery (Osaka). |
| 1999 |
Murata Tetsu
assumes the artist name Konosuke II after father's passing |
| Present |
Holds annual
exhibitions at Takashimaya Dept. Store Gallery, |
|
|
|
|
Mr. Murata works in
porcelain so, unlike pottery makers, he can achieve a more consistent
success rate in firing. On rare occasions, though, works can explode
when the water content of the porcelain reacts to the intense heat of
the kiln.
For Mr. Murata, though, the challenge lies in the brushwork. An unglazed
cup or bowl becomes a porcelain canvas, anticipating the first stroke
from the painter's brush. Accordingly, the beauty of his art comes from
the images held within.
There is something that distinguishes Mr. Murata's works from other
Kiyomizu wares. It may be his eye-catching use of both red and blue
glazes. Or perhaps it comes from the bold brush strokes that focus more
on telling exciting stories from ancient China rather than captivating
the viewer with delicate intricacy.
Unlike paintings on a gallery wall, however, Mr. Murata's paintings are
made to be appreciated and, more importantly, used around the dinner
table. |
Kiyomizu-yaki Kanshi Bowl
by Murata Tetsu
Kiyomizu-yaki Aka-e Bowl
by Murata Tetsu
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
