I’m also hoping that I can keep creating my work, which can provide peace within people’s minds.
Born in 1939 in Fukuoka, Ito Motohiko is a ceramic artist known for his mastery over the Nunome technique in his functional works displaying the splendor of the natural world. His unwavering love for his place of origin shines through in every masterpiece he crafts. In 1973, Ito Motohiko embarked on a transformative journey by embracing the Nunome (cloth imprinting) technique. While this method traditionally served as a means to facilitate the removal of clay from molds, Ito ingeniously repurposed it to infuse captivating surface textures into his creations. In his initial experimentation, he explored numerous iterations of this innovative technique, ultimately discovering the captivating synergy between iron painting and the Nunome method.
With meticulous precision, Ito began employing iron to delineate intricate floral patterns, which he then filled in with colorful slips. Through a series of meticulous firings, this exceptional technique came to life, giving rise to producing gorgeously textured and tenderly colored surfaces that embody a sensitive observation of the natural world.
As a traditional artist deeply rooted in his craft, he adorns all his vessels, plates, and ceramic creations with scenes of natural beauty, infusing each piece with the essence of his beloved hometown. He also admires Kasama in Ibaraki, where he bases his studio:
“Kasama, where I have my studio, is a wonderful small town. Even though it’s only 100 km from Tokyo, we have beautiful mountains, woods, fireflies, delicious rice and Sake. Also we have an old shrine and museums. This is really the perfect place for a creator. I am worried about the pollution of the environment, but I’m hoping that this beautiful town lasts for a long time. I’m also hoping that I can keep creating my work, which can provide peace within people’s minds.”