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My name is Harada and I am a ceramic artist working in Aichi prefecture.
It has been 15 years since I started working with ceramic.
After I graduated from university I worked as an artisan at
a pottery, while I studied about the potter's wheel.
I became independent 3 years ago, and started my own pottery, called "Harada-kama" (Harada kiln) in Aichi prefecture.
I use a type of clay called "Mashiko" from Ibaraki prefecture,
so basically we could say that I make Mashiko ware.
However, lately I have also started using my own original blend of clay.
My specialties are these kinds of simply designed tableware
and delicate works such as those that are carved with a chisel.
This is clay from Ibaraki prefecture that I have blended myself.
I mixed red and white clay, and added just a little black clay as well.
This is a robot incense burner.
When you put burning incense inside it, the smoke will come out of the wholes
so it will look like a broken robot - this is the concept I designed it after.
I have combined the characters for "incense burner," "to walk," and "person" for its name (炉歩人) and it reads "robot."
These are all from the robot series.
The concept of this work is the core,
in the form of the heart of a machine, and it belongs to my "core series."
The heart is one of the most important parts of a machine.
This is currently one of my favorite series and I am actively working in developing it.
I work on the pattern of each of the works by hand,
using tools such as toothpicks or the blades of knifes.
Since the particles of black mud are very fine, it is ideal for detailed works.
One piece of work takes me usually about 3 days.
Since they are handmade and they take time, I cannot help but becoming quite attached to these works.
People often ask me if I use a mold, and when I explain that
I do not and that everything is handmade,
they are often very surprised and say that it is unbelievable.
The interesting aspect of ceramic is that the more pieces you produce,
the more evolved your works become. The newer the work, the more advance when compared to previous ones.
This kind of self-expression really suits me - carving,
pasting together, filling out places
where I may have gone too far with the carving, etc.
You can have a look at all this works at my atelier,
so please do come when you have a chance.