Ceramics 1978–
Gaku Shakunaga
釋永岳
From sculpture to clay. Born into a family of Ecchu-Seto potters, he works among the old storehouses of Iwase in Toyama, in search of a ceramic expression that has not existed before.
Born in Toyama Prefecture in 1978. He grew up in a family that had made pottery for generations, and at university, drawn to form in three dimensions, he studied sculpture. In 2002 he graduated from the Department of Sculpture, Tokyo University of the Arts.
While still a student he was captivated by the techniques and the richness of material in ceramics, Japan's traditional craft, and resolved to work in clay. In 2003 he graduated from the forming course of the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Technical Institute. In 2006 he left the Ecchu-Seto kiln Shoraku-gama to work independently, setting up among the Mori family storehouses in Iwase, Toyama.
He makes tableware and sculptural objects, working largely to commission for restaurants, companies and private clients. Spiraling Pyramid, made in 2010, was given in 2020 by Gordon Brodfuehrer to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Selected for The Wonder 500, a program of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
《Daizara》Ceramic
Selected Works
Chronology
- 1978Born in Toyama Prefecture
- 2002Graduates from the Department of Sculpture, Tokyo University of the Arts
- 2003Graduates from the forming course, Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Technical Institute
- 2006Leaves the Ecchu-Seto kiln Shoraku-gama to work independently, among the Mori family storehouses in Iwase, Toyama
- 2008–2014Selected for the Mashiko Ceramics Exhibition, the Takaoka Craft Competition, the International Ceramics Festival Mino and the Itami International Craft Exhibition
- 2020Spiraling Pyramid (made in 2010) given to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Inquiries about the works
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