Ogami, Yuki -Tamba ceramist
Ogami, Yuki is the third generation of ceramist family in Tamba, Hyogo prefecture. He is very young and enthusiastic about his métier.
His kiln locates in a region called Tachikui, Tamba where one of the six oldest kilns was established: Seto, Tokoname, Bizen, Echizen, and Tamba. Its origin goes back in the Heian period (8-12 C), and they have produced daily life tools, like jars. In the Momoyama to the early Edo period, when the tea ceremony peaked, a tea master Kobori Enshu produced tea tools in Tamba. That sophisticated the Tamba ceramic.
The characteristic of Tamba ceramic is the clay. The clay contains iron, that changes the color of ceramic once it is baked in the kiln. It gets reddish with oxidation firing, it gets bluish-black with reduction firing. This clay generated the many phases in the climbing kiln, and its natural glaze was admired in the ancient time.
However, contemporary Tamba ceramic artists challenge more than keeping tradition. They produce excellent ceramics with tradition and innovation, using glaze, new firing techniques to evolve the possibilities of Tamba-born ceramic.
Ogami family obtains several kilns including climbing kiln from the first generation. Ogami’s creative approach to the clay explores the possibilities of Tamba clay. His experiences in Kanazawa and Seto, and his training under Suzuki, Goro vary his creation. His facility has been located on the middle of mountain with beautiful view of rice fields. Surrounded by green, and many ceramists around, his creations evolve every day, and his ceramics uplift our mind, and enrich the life experience.
Selected Award
2008 Kutani ceramic competition Gold medal
2006 Kobe International Biennale