Inspired by the modest beauty of Mashiko pottery, he decided to relocate permanently to Mashiko in 1924, where studied for many years under Hamada Shoji and affiliated closely with the Mingei school.
Born in 1904 in the Ishikawa prefecture, Murata Gen initially pursued classical painting at the Kansai Bijutsu Gakuin (Kansai Art Academy) in 1922. The onset of war, coupled with his impoverished background, led him to sell all his early paintings from his academy days for survival, resulting in the loss of these works to the public eye. His painterly career appeared to end at that point and around this time in 1934 he began to pursue ceramics. During a visit to a folk craft exhibition showcasing Mashiko wares in Tokyo, Murata discovered pottery, altering his artistic trajectory. Drawn to the modest beauty of Mashiko pottery, he permanently relocated to Mashiko in 1924.
Today, his works exhibit heart and soul. Murata showcased mastery over traditional glazes such as Nuka (rice-husk), kaki-yu (persimmon), and various iron glazes, displayed in scrolling patterns over his functional clay wares. Murata’s classical painting background underscored his mastery over surface-scape. His functional wares uniquely employed glaze decoration to express scenic vistas. Unlike Hamada Shoji, Murata Gen chose to use only clay and glazes indigenous to Mashiko, embodying a mindful Mingei practitioner who built his clay works with intention. Departing from Hamada Shoji, Murata used the exteriors of his jars and bowls as "canvases" to convey his deeply-held artistic intentions.
Bibliography
1904 Born in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan
1922 Studied western painting at Kansai Art University
1928 Work as a magazine editor, binder, and illustrator
1929 Worked on the binding of Takiji Kobayashi's "Kankofune" (revised edition by Senbazha) and illustrations for the magazine "Org"
1931 Engaged in editing the magazine "Senki" as a member of the Proletarian Artists League of Japan
1940 Worked as an editor of the magazine "South Pacific Economy" at the South Pacific Economic Research Institute
1944 Apprenticed with Hamada Shoji
1948 Became an independent Ceramist in Mashiko
1951 Build an unglazed kiln
1953 Learned the shape and attachment of handles from Bernard Leach
1954 Build a Honyaki Kiln
1955 First solo exhibition at Izumi Craft Shop in Ogikubo, Tokyo
1958 Tea bowl and water jar with handle selected for the 32nd Kokugakai Exhibition
Tea Bowl selected for the 7th Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition
1959 Tea Bowl and Water Cup with Handles selected for the 33rd Kokugakai Exhibition
Awarded the Craft Division Prize at the 13th Tochigi Prefectural Art Festival
1960 A flatware was selected for the 34th Kokugakai Exhibition
A water jar with a handle was selected for exhibition at the 9th Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition of Japan
1961 Flatware was selected for the 35th Kokugakai Exhibition.
1962 Held a solo exhibition at Saika-ya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
1966 Held a solo exhibition at Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo
1967 Held a solo exhibition at Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo
1969 Had a solo exhibition at Ginza Matsuya, Tokyo
Held a solo exhibition at Yamato Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
1970 The first solo exhibition was held at Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo
1971 Solo exhibition of Gen Murata at Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo
1974 Exhibited at Tobu Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
The fourth solo exhibition was held at Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo
1975 Rebuilt the climbing kiln.
Became a councilor of the Cultural Association of Tochigi Prefecture
1976 The 6th private exhibition was held at Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Held a solo exhibition at Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store in Tokyo
1978 Participated in "Mashiko Three Artists Exhibition" at Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo
1979 Held a solo exhibition at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya, Tochigi
Participated in the "Bottoms, Bottles and Teacups" exhibition
Exhibited Mashiko Ceramics Exhibition at Tobu Department Store, Utsunomiya
1980 Exhibited at Tochigi Prefecture Ceramic Art Exhibition at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi
1981 Held a solo exhibition at Kuroda Pottery Garden, Ginza, Tokyo
Held a solo exhibition at Tsukamoto Ceramic Plaza, Mashiko, Tochigi
Exhibited "Contemporary Mashiko Ceramic Artists Exhibition" at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi
1983 Participated in "Six Mashiko Ceramic Artists Exhibition" at Isetan, Tokyo
Held a solo exhibition at Ueno Department Store, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi
Exhibited at Tochigi Prefectural Ceramic Artists Exhibition at Tobu Department Store, Utsunomiya, Tochigi
Exhibited at "Seven Artists Exhibition" at the same store
1985 Received the Order of Cultural Merit from Tochigi Prefecture
1988 Died on March 8