Kitaoji Rosanjin―The Renaissance of Japanese Ceramics: The Path to Contemporary Art

Chiba City Museum of Art

This event has ended.

Rosanjin Kitaoji (1883-1959) started out in the fields of calligraphy and engraving, but in 1922, when in his late 30s, he turned his attention to creating ceramics as “kimono for food,” emanating from his interest in food from nature. It surpassed mere dishware-making: by exploring the country’s tradition surrounding the tea ceremony that had been at the centre of Japanese culture since the Middle Ages, he became the leader of a ceramics renaissance. This exhibition, while centering on the work of Kitaoji, adds works by his contemporaries. It will also display examples of the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese antique ceramics that they studied. These rich achievements in Showa-period ceramics formed the foundation of modern ceramics and offer glimpses into the future.