Lacquer-ware Vessels

I was trained in the traditional techniques of lacquerware and Wajima-nuri using only the best materials at a school whose mission it is to produce the next generation of living national treasures. We were instructed by expert craftsmen and current living national treasures (craftsmen that the Japanese government recognizes as being intangible important cultural assets) to follow in their footsteps.

Wajima-nuri is usually produced in a process of division of labour but as I always planned to return to my home country, I knew that I had to be able to do all the different stages including the polishing and decorating techniques. Later, I found that being able to do the whole process allowed me the freedom to play with the process by changing the order and materials and so developed my own unique style.

Whilst doing the many layers required to produce a piece of Wajima-nuri, I couldn’t help feel a sadness because no one would ever get to see the beauty of the wood that I was covering up. I felt the same about the linen that is used to reinforce bowls and dishes and even the diatomaceous earth used in the undercoats. I started to experiment with these various textures and explore the variety of expressions that urushi can produce.

I also made a point of learning other techniques that predate Wajima-nuri, such as kanshitsu and hari-nuki. These techniques have been used since ancient times and were traditionally used for the making of Buddhist statues and religious items.

I get my inspiration from nature, walking in the mountains, along the beach, from the river that flows outside my front door and the amazing Noto skies. I love the curves of waves, shells, leaves and petals and the beautiful patterns on spiders, fish, bugs and especially dragonflies. Dragonflies have been around much longer than humans and to the samurai they were a symbol of persistence as the dragonfly always flies forwards and cannot fly backwards. I love them because of their elegant beauty and perfection so they have become a regular feature in my work.