Cylinder vase with ripped top by Kazuya Ishida. The classic jar form is offset by the rawness of the ripped top and surface crackles. The whirling strokes of slip on the piece give it a sense of careening motion; it feels like it is on the edge of tipping over but perfectly balanced all at once.
The making of...
Kazuya's pieces prominently feature the technique of brushing white slip (effectively liquid clay) to the exterior surface of a piece, then passing a large blow torch slowly and rhythmically over the piece. The blast of high heat sears the slip, drying it instantaneously. The crackling that results creates rich, organic textures on the surface.
About Kazuya Ishida
Kazuya Ishida is a second-generation potter in Bizen, Japan. He trained with Jun Isezaki (National Living Treasure in Bizen); he later traveled to the U.S. and the U.K., where he helped build two kilns for the Oxford Anagama Kiln project. Kazuya's work is a harmonious blend of tradition and modern impulses. He blends the traditions of Bizen and the U.K., and of movement and the natural world.
