In lieu of a greeting

This exhibition of Kyoji Tsuji's posthumous works will be the first of its kind in Japan.

Mount Miwa in Nara was a place that Kyo Tsuji deeply revered.

It seems that he particularly enjoyed visiting the "Hanashizume no Matsuri" (Flower Calming Festival) held at Omiwa Shrine, which considers the mountain itself as its sacred object, as well as the "Sasayuri" (Lily Festival) at Isagawa Shrine, where people offer the sacred flower of the foot of Mount Miwa, the "Sasayuri," to pray for protection against disease.

As if drawn to the primal form of Shinto worship, the dignified, delicate, and elegant "Sasayuri" lily seems to have been sublimated into the works of pottery by Kyo Tsuji.

In 2007, an exhibition titled "Captivating... A Japanese Ceramics Exhibition Currently Attracting Attention," held at the Shiga Prefectural Ceramic Art Museum, featured the works of 25 talented female ceramic artists.

When Kyo Tsuji took part in this project, he must have mustered his last ounce of strength, working alone and with a profound sense of joy to prepare the composition of the work. This was a year before his death.

Following that, in 2009, the world tour exhibition "Enchanted..." began.

The National Museum of Sèvres Porcelain (France). Next, the Crocker Museum of Art in Sacramento, California (USA).

In 2012, exhibitions were held in Washington D.C., the Arts and Culture Center on Maui, Hawaii, and then toured.

Then, in 2016, the "Tsuji Kyo Exhibition," organized by New York Daiichi Arts, Ltd, was held in New York.

This exhibition was made possible because, when Kyo Tsuji previously presented his work at the Japan Foundation in New York, they kindly stored one of his large-scale pieces there.

The following year, in 2017, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, held a special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Crafts Gallery, titled "The World of Ceramic Master Tsuji Seimei: Bright and Sabiy Beauty," in collaboration with the Nikkei Inc., to mark the 10th anniversary of Tsuji Seimei's death.

At that time, Kyo Tsuji's works were exhibited in the capacity of "artists who have collaborated with Seimei Tsuji."

I would like to share a passage from the catalog, written by Masahiro Karasawa, who planned and organized the exhibition.

In the section on [Pottery Studios and Interacting Artists],

"...(omitted) By the way, Tsuji built a climbing kiln in Renkoji, Tama in 1955."

Because it was a rare find in a location so close to the city center, it began to attract many artists, not just ceramicists, but also painters, writers, and other artists.

Among them were painters like Sam Francis and Nagao Yamaguchi, who worked in Tsuji's pottery studio and challenged themselves to create ceramic works.

Kyo Tsuji, who was Tsuji's partner and also worked as a ceramic artist himself, can be said to be one of the people who influenced Tsuji.

I met Kyo Tsuji through "Shin Kojin," a group I formed with fellow artists. At the time, I was creating original works by applying thick layers of lacquer to glass plates and then carving them.

He was fond of discussing art theory, and they would talk about it over drinks.

Kiyoaki Tsuji passed away on April 15, 2008, and Kyo also passed away shortly afterward on July 8 of the same year.

The clash of energies between the two is reflected in the artwork, and I imagine you must have gone through a great deal of trouble to create the venue layout.

This posthumous exhibition is primarily composed of works featuring tableware that was included in author Kyo Tsuji's book "A Table Full of Blessings" (published by Bunka Publishing Bureau), as well as microcosmic works that express the "world of prayer" that he deeply revered in his later years.

I would be grateful if you would take a look.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Kakiden Gallery, Takashi Yasuda, and everyone involved for making the decision to hold the "Tsuji Kyoten Exhibition" under the current circumstances.

June 2020, auspicious day, Kei Tsuji

Kyoko Tsuji was a pioneering female ceramic artist, creating elegant and distinctive pottery such as kohiki-de (white slipware). Her husband was Kiyoharu Tsuji, a master of Japanese ceramics.

Kyo-san is also a skilled cook, and at Tsuji Pottery Studio in Tama, he would often treat his many friends to his home-cooked meals while he was making pottery.

It must have been a delicious and enjoyable time.

This exhibition, titled "A Table Full of Bountiful Delights," in keeping with the title of her cookbook, will be the first exhibition in Japan showcasing her posthumous works of tableware.

As expected from someone who loves cooking, the dishes are easy to use, and the lovely, elegant tableware will undoubtedly make the food look even more appealing.

Kei, the eldest daughter, made a wonderful suggestion: how about using the artwork for the exhibition's direct mail piece as a vessel named "Sasayuri" (Lily)?

At the Isagawa Shrine in Nara, which Kyo-san worshipped, a festival called the "Saegusa Festival" is held every June. During this festival, lilies are offered and prayers are made to ward off disease.

Mr. and Mrs. Tsuji Kiyoharu were a couple loved by everyone.

I'm sure you two are also praying from heaven, together with the lilies, for the end of the coronavirus pandemic.

I hope you will enjoy looking at it.

Shop owner Takashi Yasuda