Hiruma Kazuyo 昼馬和代 Japanese, b. 1947

Hiruma Kazuyo's works presented are fastidiously constructed yet remain anchored in natural phenomena. Trained as a graphic designer, Hiruma finds her voice in ceramic making. Her works explore natural phenomena. Her unique way of work has won her many awards at home and abroad. Hiruma layers thin clay sheets on top of each other. Her forms are bound by traditional principles as it seeks to transcend them.

Kazuyo Hiruma (b.1947) began her artistic career in 1976, when she worked under the guidance of ceramic artists Sugaki and Hisano Mizuno in Osaka. Prior to committing to her ceramic practice, Sakai City-born Hiruma worked as a graphic designer for a decade. Hiruma founded her own kiln in 1988, and her ceramic work exploring natural phenomena has since exhibited and received awards internationally. Hiruma has participated in the Japan Crafts Exhibition, International Ceramic Art Festival Mino, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Itami Craft Exhibition, Kyoto Craft Exhibition, Japan Craft Exhibition, Mashiko Ceramic Competition, Chozo Ceramic Art Exhibition,Taiwan Ceramic Biennale, Kikuchi Biennale, Kobe Biennale, and Wellington Ceramics Exchange in New Zealand. Hiruma’s work is held in numerous international collections, including the Wellington City Collection in New Zealand, Japanese Embassy of New Zealand, New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan, and Sakai City Collection in Osaka. 

 

The works presented are fastidiously constructed yet remain anchored in natural phenomena. Hiruma layers thin sheets of clay horizontally or vertically to create each work, finally glazing and firing the ceramic after spending a month or two building it. The artist’s practice stands out from contemporary ceramic work bound in tradition through its play with both space and movement. Dynamic and impressive in size, Hiruma’s work diverges from the smaller objects usually on display in a Japanese tokonoma, or reception room. Kazuyo Hiruma: Memories of Water and Earth reflects Dai Ichi Arts’ commitment to working with artists to promote ceramic works that are accessible in meaning yet rich in visual language.