Jug-shaped vase created and signed by Bizen potter, Kazuya Ishida. The white slip streaks recall the fouettés of a dancer in spinning motion, or tornado whipping through a dusty plain.
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.