荻野NAO之

Naoyuki Ogino

"Color" is not merely a visual phenomenon. It is a grand memento of stories emerging from an otherworldly realm can be called "Mother-Sea-of-Colors" (a coined term signifying the birthplace and sea of colors), spanning the liminal space where in-between the reincarnations of the cosmos (heaven), the Earth (earth), and humanity (people) intersect. This memento vividly transforms on the shore of the "Mother-Sea-of-Colors." The "colors" of pottery serve as a clear example. Unique colors, infused with metal elements like iron, copper, and cobalt—none of which originated on Earth—are manifested through the firing process. Metal elements born from the "Reincarnation of Heaven," such as through stellar life cycles and supernova explosions, became the raw materials for pottery after enduring the Earth's "Reincarnation" of tectonic activity. These materials were further shaped by the "Reincarnation of Humanity," with the skills of pottery-making passed down through generations, culminating in the vibrant colors and forms of Kyo-yaki. The rich diversity of Kyo-yaki's colors, forms, and techniques reflects Kyoto's history as a cultural center of Japan, where diverse techniques converged at the end of the Silk Road and evolved uniquely. The diverse "colors" scattered across the shore of Kyo-yaki seem to harbor the power to draw viewers into their own stories.