This exhibition, which we had been planning for some time, has unexpectedly taken on a special meaning for our family of potters in Ishikawa Prefecture, due to the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on New Year's Day this year.

As we gathered fragments in the exhibition room, which was so crowded during the New Year's holiday that there was hardly any room to move, we reflected on the happiness of our entire family being safe and the tragic reality of the disaster in Noto. This led us to name this project "Mutan," a name for our exhibition room that signifies a beginning from nothing.

This time, in collaboration with Kakiden Gallery, we plan to donate a portion of the proceeds to disaster relief, and although it may be a small amount, we hope it will be of some use to help those affected by the recent earthquake.

This is the first exhibition by our family of five.

We hope you can feel the passion we have as we embark on this new chapter.

Kinzan Kiln 4th generation Yukio Yoshita

Reiwa6We offer our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected in the disaster-stricken areas.

After consulting with Professor Yoshida, we decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from this exhibition to Ishikawa Prefecture's "Reiwa"6I would like to donate to the disaster relief fund for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of this year.

We will provide further details about the donation on our gallery website and other platforms at a later date.

I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to all those who are working tirelessly on disaster relief efforts in the affected areas.

And I sincerely pray for the swift recovery of all those affected by the disaster.

Shop owner Takashi Yasuda

▶ About "嘸旦"

The meaning of "嘸旦" is a silent beginning, and also, a selfless creation.

We are craftsmen.

I want to express in my works for the present age the sense of happiness that the creators feel from their tireless daily training, the breath and demeanor of the craftsmen that rise from the vast collection of ancient works sleeping in the stone warehouse, and even the unspoken conversations that the craftsmen of yesteryear must have had there.

With that in mind, I named this space "Kōtan".

▶ About "Kinzan Kiln"

Nishiyama Kiln is a pottery studio located in Takado-cho, Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, specializing in Kutani ware with overglaze decoration.

Since the first generation Yoshida Shosaku established the kiln in this location in 1906 (Meiji 39), pottery making has continued for over 120 years, with the kiln fire never going out.

Characterized by intricate and resplendent techniques such as the use of five colors in colored painting and the application of gold leaf in brocade-style designs, the use of gold in painting has been a hallmark of this style since the first generation, who excelled in colored brocade-style designs.

The third generation Yoshinori refined the technique of "gold decoration under the glaze" and was designated a holder of a nationally designated Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure).

And now, Yukihiro, the fourth generation, has inherited the traditional techniques while constantly striving to find new expressions of colored gold brocade that are in line with the times, and continues to hone his skills to this day.