Haruhiko Kaneko’s Okinawan pottery on display in the British Museum

Haruhiko Kaneko’s Okinawan pottery on display in the British Museum

The “Yohen-taihi tenmoku tea bowl” (left) and the “Hekikai-yuteki tenmoku tea bowl,” collected by the British Museum (Image provided by Ishigaki-yaki Studios)


November 10, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The British Museum in England, the world’s largest museum, has acquired two ceramic works created by Haruhiko Kaneko, 56, owner of the well-renowned Ishigaki-yaki Pottery Studio in Ishigaki. The two pieces are the “Yohen-taihi tenmoku tea bowl” and the “Hekikai-yuteki tenmoku tea bowl.” Kaneko is the second Okinawan ceramic artist to have his works collected by the British Museum after Isamu Nakamura from Nago.

 

The “Yohen” tea bowl was made in 2010. It catches the light as if it were inlaid with gems, and glitters with an iridescent sparkle. The “Hekikai” tea bowl uses a glaze made with a 1000 year-old technique, characterized by the texture of the glaze’s iron base exuding from the bowl.

Haruhiko Kaneko


 

Both pieces are bade by fusing glass and ceramics, making the bottom of each bowl shine with a bright blue gradient reminiscent of the Okinawan sea. The pieces were acquired by the museum September 20.

 

Kaneko, who referred to the acquisition by the British Museum as a “dream,” said happily, “It is a great honor. This will serve as great PR for Yaeyama and Ishigaki Island, as visitors from all over the world come to the museum.”

 

“I think that the fusion of glass and ceramics was what [the museum] valued. I want to break into new genres, and create even better works,” he continued with resolve and passion.

 

(English tanslation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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