Dialogue - Takashi Ichikawa -

Cycling around Hokkaido

As a student, he loved drawing. He heard that he could study art if he went to education in high school, and so he applied to a teacher's university in Hokkaido, thinking that if he was going to study art, he wanted to go to the farthest place possible. He says that even if he was accepted, he had no intention of going. What made him decide to go was seeing the majesty of Mt. Yotei from the train window on the way to the exam. He persuaded his family to let him go to university, saying, "I want to live in the rich natural environment of Hokkaido."

To put this idea into action, during his university years he traveled around Hokkaido by bicycle in order to experience the charms of Hokkaido's nature and to meet various artists and craftspeople, including Ainu sculptors.

"Until then, I had only thought of art as just painting, but I learned that there are many different genres, such as sculpture, design and ceramics, and I also learned about the lifestyles of many different creators, which made me feel even more attracted to the art world."

During this process, he became interested in sculpture and decided to specialize in it. At the same time, an artist he had wanted to meet but had not been able to act on passed away, which made him realize that "when you have an idea, you have to act on it immediately."

The origin of tableware that considers the lifestyle of the user

He then went to graduate school in Niigata to seek guidance from a sculptor who caught his eye. After graduating, he got a job as a temporary art teacher at a local high school, but gradually realized he wanted to focus more on making things, so he decided to pursue a career in pottery rather than a teaching career.

Then, by chance, he joined a pottery factory. He spent three years learning everything from how to turn the potter's wheel to making products. After that, he went independent. He decided to look around the country from the perspective of pottery and visit potters that interested him.

"During that process, I met Shigeyoshi Morioka from Wakayama and became his apprentice. Not only was the pottery there wonderful, but the lifestyle there was also rich and charming, and I enjoyed a variety of work and play experiences. The apprentices prepared the meals, so I became interested in cooking as well. I learned that there is a lot of appeal in the things surrounding tableware, rather than simply making it."

Pottery is all I have

After regaining his independence, he focused on solo exhibitions. In order to create an environment where he could work on pottery, he carved wood to build a hut and built a kiln out of bricks. Looking back, he recalls that at first, even the local people did not understand what he was doing and did not accept him.

In his early days, he rented a weekly apartment in Tokyo, packed his pottery in a backpack, and visited galleries that caught his eye. "Ceramics is all I have." With this strong conviction in mind, he continued his steady peddling, and eventually received offers from galleries in Tokyo and Kyoto, which led to group and solo exhibitions.

"When we hold an exhibition, visitors sometimes tell us ways to use the products that we had never imagined. When I made the 'fire-ready plate', inspired by old stone plates, I had imagined using it like a pot, but a culinary expert who came to see the exhibition wanted to try it out on a fire, so he placed the plate on the stove and cooked some food. There are many concrete reactions that can only be seen by using the products."

The exhibition gained a great reputation through word of mouth, and many people visited. These experiences have shaped Ichikawa's current approach to craftsmanship. The creator and user communicate with each other, and the joy of using things is shaped to find new essences.

Tea ceremony and flower arrangements

Ichikawa-san used to host tea ceremonies under the name "Chakakigoto." With no set content, he built each event from scratch, and these events were held both in Japan and Taiwan.

It was a cup of Taiwanese tea that got him hooked on the world of tea. One day, a Taiwanese tea teacher visited his studio to see Ichikawa's pottery. At that time, he was making a fireproof earthenware teapot. The Taiwanese tea teacher liked it and gave him a cup of Taiwanese tea as a token of appreciation.

"I was surprised at how the aroma and flavor changed with each brew. The second brew had a deeper flavor, and the third brew had a different flavor. I found this process of change rich. After that, when I held a solo exhibition in Taiwan, I was impressed by how Taiwanese people enjoyed tea without being bound by formalities."

The world of tea used to seem somewhat intimidating, but enjoying tea in a way that is different from the tea ceremony has become something that is much more familiar and familiar to me.

What surprised me when I visited Ichikawa's studio was the existence of the "Chaguruma" (tea cart), which was invented to convey the joy of tea. It is a portable handcart with a chest of drawers for storing tea utensils and a countertop, so you can carry the Chaguruma anywhere and enjoy brewing tea.

The realization of the Chasha led to the creation of the "Chayūki" event, which allows people to enjoy "Tea, Sweets, Flowers, and Utensils" all over the world. Like Journey to the West, where people travel to faraway lands, the Chasha is carried wherever people go, and is an activity to spread the word about tea.

The charm of tableware lies in the way it is used

The "Ceramic Artist Takashi Ichikawa Exhibition" will be held from May 2nd.

This exhibition will be open by appointment only, and scores will be posted online every day.

During the exhibition, there will be a special event, featuring Sawamura Gendo and Sawamura Hina of Yaso Sora, who tell the story of wild grasses from their own perspective. The event will feature a light-hearted and thought-provoking tale of grasses, with the confectionery shop Yoyun as the host. In the cafe, there will be a dinner party hosted by Takakura Yuiko, who will use Ichikawa's tableware.

He says that the opportunity to hold events, not just exhibitions, came from a place called Utsushiki.

"Instead of thinking of it within the framework of tea itself, I rethought the entire process of brewing tea as an interaction between plants, fire (yang), and water, and it all made sense to me. In Utsushiki Garden, plants grow and there is a place for tea. In this space, I want to convey a world in harmony with nature, not just through the utensils, but also through tea and food."

Each piece is carefully crafted with the person who will use it in mind.

"Each piece has a story behind it, such as the inspiration for its creation or the reason for its shape. For example, among the pieces on display this time is a storage container in the shape of a vase. You can reach into the opening of the vase, so it can be used as an easy-to-wash storage container, and if you remove the wooden lid, it can also be used as a flower vase. The vessels are left to the imagination of the person who uses them, and as they are used, they take on the colors of that person's life and develop a beautiful "expression." Just like antiques, I think vessels have an appeal when they are used. I hope that everyone will enjoy this exhibition."

[Please see the work from the link below]