Keiji Itou is a rare artist who constantly questions the essence of things.

His solitary spirit, even when he's in the middle of town, makes him seem like a saint living in a deep, secluded mountain valley.

Therefore, whether it's paintings, crafts, or ceramic sculptures, the sculptural works that Ito creates are simple yet profound.

It is the crystallization of his pure soul and an expression of his delicate sensibilities.

Ito's refusal to belong to any particular group and his lack of pursuit of status are likely due to his commitment to maintaining this creative approach.

Indeed, Ito's works embody his very artistic spirit.

Ito studied oil painting at Musashino Art School (now Musashino Art University), and in his mid-twenties, while working at the Gifu Prefectural Ceramic Research Institute, he met Sakuzo Hineno, a ceramic designer and leader of the craft movement.

That day, I learned from Hineno about the importance of design in the form of pottery.

The reason Ito started making pottery was because he realized that he couldn't understand anything about clay or the potter's wheel just from designs on paper.

As a result, instead of paper designs for mass production, we arrive at designs where each piece is an independent, individual design.

Whether two-dimensional or three-dimensional, Ito's works have a solid foundation in design.

Therefore, even though I've shifted from working primarily on tableware to creating three-dimensional ceramic sculptures, the core of my work remains unchanged.

The tea bowls created by Ito are simple yet profound and modern.

Moreover, it doesn't have any of the pretentiousness of tea ceremony pottery.

The reason is that the basic design is always solid, which allows for freedom in the shaping.

The subtitle, "Being Oneself," also reflects Ito's way of life.

This exhibition will feature over 50 items, primarily tea bowls and drawings, as well as tea caddies, hanging flower vases, incense boxes, incense burners, and tea kettles.

Kouichi Mori (Standing Director, Japan Ceramic Society)