New addition to UMU． UMUの新しい仲間

At the end of last year, Mr Kazuya Ishida, an up-and-coming young ceramic artist from Bizen (one of the hometown of Japanese earthenware), who currently resides in London to polish his skill and widen his field of activity, personally delivered a huge vase specially made by him for Umu.

The vase is fully decorated with his speciality skill, which technique I was blown away by when I observed for the first time while he was teaching me potter’s wheel skill few months back, and was made up to be a very powerful piece.

Unlike the standard ceramic vases for Japanese-style drawing room, Mr Ishida had to consider many requests and restrictions creating this particular piece, however the outcome was an outstanding, beautifully finished vase which is yet practical. After only 1 month of being part of the restaurant, the vase is already blending in perfectly to create the Umu atmosphere, almost like it has been where it meant to be for many years.

陶芸の故郷、備前から陶芸の技術と共に英国で活動するために滞在されている若手陶芸家の石田和也氏が昨年末、当店のために大きな花入れを製作して届けてくれました。

私の家でロクロ技術を教えてくれた数ヶ月前、彼の持つ特殊技術に驚かされましたが、まさにその技術で装飾が施された力強い作品です。 

日本のお座敷に置かれるのと違ったいろいろな制約がある中での製作をお願いしましたが、大変使いやすく、約一ヶ月が経った今では昔からそこにあったかのようにお店に馴染んでいます。