Mariko Yasukawa

The white porcelain “Matoi” series are painted on white porcelain clay formed on a potter's wheel using a traditional technique called "icchin".

"Icchin" is a technique of painting by squeezing out plaster from a dropper-like tool with a fine tip.

In this work, small circles, triangles, and squares are arranged in a series according to a certain rule.

By applying the same pattern to the entire surface of the vessel, I aimed to create the impression that the vessel is covered with a textile or accessory.

This work expresses a world where people's memories, delusions, and prayers are interlinked, clothed, and spread out. 

I studied ceramics in Okinawa Prefecture and continued my work in Tokyo, arriving at my current porcelain works.

Porcelain is a type of ceramics with low water absorption, high hardness, and fired at high temperatures.

Porcelain is made mainly from ceramic stone and fired at temperatures ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 degrees Celsius.

Originally, I used white porcelain and white plaster to create shadows on my works.

Gradually, I found meaning in the expanding patterns and came to want to express space and time using this Icchin technique.

Using traditional techniques, I carefully create my works and make daily efforts to “evoke scenes for each person who sees them.

In recent years, I have been focusing on coloring by baking underglaze and lead-free overglaze paints, and continues to research colors with a unique presence that is infinitely pale.

Although the works appear to be unglazed at first glance, most of them are coated with matte glaze.  

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

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Biography

2003 Graduated from the Master's program in Ceramic Art at Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts (Also served as a teaching assistant at the same university)

2005 After working as a part-time lecturer at the university, studied ceramics under Mariko Furuya  in Tokyo

2021 Became independent and has held numerous exhibitions across Japan

 

Awards

2001 Selected, World Crafts Competition Kanazawa

2023 The 3rd Japan cultural Grand Prix, Excellence Prize