ISHIDA Kazuya Rahō Spherical Vase

Description

The Rahō (螺法) spherical vase from Ishida Kazuya bears the traces of a true ash eruption. Originally, the wood firing was intended to produce only a subtle sheen, emphasising the contrast between the warm reddish Bizen clay and the white slip — Ishida’s distinctive signature style.
But the fire had other plans. A powerful ash fall left its own imprint, turning the piece into a unique testimony of the dialogue between artist and nature.

The flowing ash merges harmoniously with the shell impressions on which the vase rested during the anagama firing. These natural imprints interrupt the otherwise perfect spherical form, adding further depth and complexity to the piece.

The colour palette is as varied as it is fascinating: light to dark browns transition into a fine koge black. Matte and glossy surfaces alternate, making the wild energy of the firing process tangibly present in the work.

ISHIDA KAZUYA

Spirals and Waves: A Portrait of Nature in the Bizen Style

Ishida Kazuya comes from a family of potters in Bizen. Bizen is one of Japan’s most important ceramic regions and is renowned for its unglazed, high-fired pottery.

For four years, Ishida Kazuya studied under Isezaki Jun, Bizen’s current Living National Treasure. His experience in the United Kingdom, where he worked with slip and slipware techniques, has also had a strong influence on his work. Ishida Kazuya developed a distinctive interpretation of the Bizen style, which he calls Rahō (螺法). The name is derived from spiral-shaped shells.

Indeed, his creations are deeply inspired by nature. Ishida-san is fascinated by the dynamic forms and movements found in ancient rocks and spiralling seashells, and he seeks to capture these patterns in his work. Firing in a traditional noborigama or anagama kiln adds further layers of complexity to each piece through the effects of flame and the natural deposition of wood ash.