Invited by Karatsu ware ceramic artist Mr. Kojima, I excitedly attended Autumn Leaves and Pottery Exhibit 2022, which was being held for the first time in two years. I will report on the exhibition featuring new powerful pottery works, characteristic of Mr. Kojima’s style, impactful oni masks, and dragon ornaments.
The exhibit was held from November 18th to 20th (Friday to Sunday) in 2022. The day I visited was a beautiful sunny autumn Sunday with a clear blue sky. Upon my arrival, Mr. Kojima and his wife welcomed me with smiles.
When I entered the studio, what caught my eye first were numerous masks, powerful oni and dragons, and an elegant and dignified-faced “rabbit” (next year's zodiac). In the back exhibition room, there were dynamic yet intricately crafted ornaments of dragons and rockfish. He had told me that, going forward, he wanted to challenge himself to create three-dimensional sculptures, and in addition to pottery, numerous sculptural pieces were also exhibited.
Another delight of the Autumn Leaves and Pottery Exhibit is Mr. Kojima’s healthy homemade vegetable and small fish pizza. Its diameter is approximately 40cm, the same size as a newspaper, making it an extra-large size. Mr. Kojima made everything from the dough to the pizza sauce. It is exquisite and extremely popular! Sweet potatoes slowly roasted in a wood-burning stove were also served.
The numerous works displayed in the studio and exhibition room. There were various types of everyday use pottery appropriate for late autumn, such as teacups, teapots, coffee cups, soup cups, and deep plates perfect for serving hot pot dishes. Flat plates and small dishes were also displayed. What piqued my interest personally this time was sake vessels; I’ve always felt that Mr. Kojima’s sake sets have a charm that captivates the hearts of sake enthusiasts. With bold and powerful guinomi and beautifully textured yamase ido sakazuki, his repertoire is rich. I believe it was a delightful pottery exhibit for guinomi collectors.
With the exhibit being held after a two-year hiatus, I was told that there were many visitors every day. On the day of my visit, too, I noticed that the studio was bustling with many people. It was a visit that reminded me that many visitors were captivated by not only Mr. Kojima’s works, but also his personality as he sweat over baking his homemade pizzas.
If you have any inquiries about the masks, ornaments, everyday use pottery, or sake sets that I introduced this time, please feel free to contact us.