北国の蒼
「北国の蒼」をテーマに、秋田で江戸時代に生まれた伝統的な白岩焼（しらいわやき）を、現代的なデザインで制作しています。
白岩焼の特徴は、海鼠釉（なまこゆう）と呼ばれる青白く表情豊かな色合いの釉薬。地元産の赤い土と、地元産「あきたこまち」のモミの灰を材料にした釉薬とが窯の中で化学変化を起こし、この独特の色合いが生まれます。自然由来の材料のみを用い、窯焚きの小さな変化にも敏感に影響を受けるため、ふたつと同じ発色は焼きあがりません。
海鼠釉を生み出す窯元は今も日本各地にあり、ルーツをたどれば中国・韓国に行きつきます。しかし、そのなかでもこの白岩焼の海鼠釉は釉薬の重厚さと表情の豊かさにおいてに群を抜いています。それはまるで長い長い冬のあと、青白い雪の隙間から大地の色が少しづつ見えてくる瞬間の風景のよう。白岩焼はこの土地に生きる人々の、春を待ちわびる心象風景を体現したもののように思うのです。
一年の三分の近くを雪におおわれる秋田は、作ったものも凍る、釉薬も凍る、やきもの作りに向いた土地ではありません。しかし、急ぐことのできない時間のなかで、ゆっくりと考え、丁寧にものを作る。それはなにごとも効率優先の現代において、時代遅れであると同時に貴重なことであると思います。自然の温かな恩恵と鋭利な厳しさ、雪国秋田で生きることを造形に落とし込んだ制作をつづけていきたい と思います。
Northern blue
Shiraiwa ware is a historical pottery that was founded 250 years ago in Akita, a northern part of Japan. Wahee Pottery is a small pottery that is run by a family of just three, who have inherited the tradition of making Shiraiwa ware.
Shiraiwa ware’s bright blue and expressive appearance is highlighted by its glaze made from the ashes of rice husks, called namako glaze. The ashes of the rice husks of the locally-harvested Akitakomachi rice that is harvested in Akita, which is one of the biggest breadbaskets of Japan, is an indispensable material for making this glaze. We do not use any artificial colorants, but use natural materials and a lot of time and effort to create this vivid blue color.
Akita is also known for being a region of heavy snowfall. The contrast between the blue and white namako glaze and the reddish brown clay of the ground is very similar to the scenery of the snowdrift season in Akita, when the earth can be seen in between the pale snow. For the people of Akita, the transition from winter to spring is long awaited, and that is why it is a special time of the year. Shiraiwa ware is pottery that captures these moments of the season.
Please enjoy its unique color and shape, allowing you to feel both the coldness of winter and the warmth of spring that the land of Akita nurtures.
経歴
1980
秋田県角館町白岩に生まれる
2005
岩手大学大学院教育学研究科（美術工芸）修了後、父・敏明に師事
2009
京都府立陶工高等技術専門校研究科修了後、同校講師
2011
和兵衛窯にて制作活動開始
Career
1980
Born in Kakunodate, Akita, as the daughter of the owners of Wahee Pottery.
2005
MA in Education of Arts and Crafts, Iwate University. Began studying under her father, Toshiharu.
2009
Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute and began teaching at the same school.
2011
Began working at Shiraiwa Ware Wahee Pottery and has been working on solo exhibitions and special exhibitions until the present.
Shiraiwa ware Wahee Pottery
36-2, Shiraiwahon-machi, Kakunodate-cho, Senboku-City, Akita 014-0302, Japan
TEL:+81(0)187-54-4199
HP:https://waheegama.jimdofree.com/