SPECIAL ONLINE EVENT

A lecture and demonstration by

SHOZO MICHIKAWA

Date & Time
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
7:00 PM (PT)

The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles is honored to present an online lecture and demonstration event by renowned ceramic artist Shozo Michikawa, and we invite you to witness his dynamic artistry during this special occasion. 

Michikawa has been based in Seto since 1975, home to one of the Six Old Kilns of Japan. His work has been exhibited widely throughout Japan as well as internationally and is included in the collections of numerous museums around the globe such as Shimada City Museum, Japan, Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, to name just a few.  

An introduction of the artist will be given by Hollis Goodall, Curator of Japanese Art at LACMA in this presentation.

Additionally, Michikawa’s fifteen new works will be on display at Hostler Burrows from November 18th to December 23rd, 2021. 

 

Artist Statement:

Nature into Art

The theme of my works is “Nature into Art”. The place where I grew up is at the foot of Mt. Usu volcano, Hokkaido, which is still active to this day. So, the mental images from my youth are still reflected in my works.

Rather than making pottery, I’m having a conversation with clay. I try to assist the way clay wants to go.

My faceted and twisted forms are hand-built and sculpted but, in fact, most of my works are created on the wheel. However, I do not “throw” my vessels in any conventional sense; rather their energy comes from the twisting of fractured planes on an internal axis. It is a different understanding of my materials, to do with cutting and paring down, rather than expanding from a ball of clay.

The energy of nature is truly immense. No matter how much our sciences and civilization might evolve, the power of human beings is inconsequential in the face of natural threats such as typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and erupting volcanoes.

My own creative activities have been inspired by various phenomena in the natural world. It is my hope that when I gain something from nature, people will be able to feel and enjoy that as well, when they feel the energy in my works.

 

About the Artist:

Shozo Michikawa was born in 1953 on the northern most island in Japan, Hokkaido. He initially had a career in business after graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University but took up evening classes in art where he discovered his talent and passion for pottery. A few years later, Michikawa made the decision to give up his life in business and to focus on creating ceramics.

In July 2005, he was given the honor of being the first Japanese artist to have a solo exhibition of his art in The Forbidden City, Beijing.

Michikawa's ceramics have been widely exhibited in Japan and around the world, including China, America, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the Philippines, Mongolia, and the UK.