Ken Shomura

• Category
  Ceramics
• Techniques
  Pale blue porcelain
• Born
  1949 -
• Based in
  Saga
• Membership
  Meritorious Member, Japan Kogei Association
  Secretary, Japan Kogei Association Western Branch
  Secretary, TOBI, the Ceramic Art Society of Japan
  Director, Saga Ceramic Art Association

Style

Based on hakuji (white porcelain) of Arita ware, I take up the challenge of applying engraving and painting, glaze coloring, and crimson or indigo blue painting. My aim is to create ceramics that while maintaining their distinctive features, are pleasing to the eye and touch.

Biography

• 1968
  Graduated from Ceramics Course, Arita Technical High School
• 2013
  Secretary of the TOBI, the Ceramic Art Society of Japan Exhibition
• 2014
  Vice-president of Arita Ceramic Art Association
• 1969
  Studied under INOUE Manji, a living national treasure, for 6 years
• 1971
  Selected for West Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition (first time);
  selected 43 times to date
• 1975
  Selected for Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition (first time); after being selected
  8 times accepted as a member
• 1977
  Selected for Japanese Ceramic Arts Exhibition
• 1978
  Selected for Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (first time);
  selected 31 times to date
• 1989
  Director, Saga Ceramic Art Association
• 1991
  Secretary, Saga Ceramic Art Association
• 1993
  Visited US to donate his work to Sackler Gallery of Art, the National Museum
  of Asian Art at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
• 1996
  Commended by the governor as an outstanding skilled worker; secretary,
  Japan Kogei Association Western Japan Branch
• 1997
  Director, Saga Ceramic Art Association; committee member, Issuikai Ceramics Department
• 1999
  "Exploring Porcelain" - Beyond White Porcelain - NHK broadcast
• 2000
  Submitted to Saga Contemporary Ceramics from the Home of Japanese Porcelain,
  British Museum
• 2004
  Submitted to Arita Ceramic Art Association Meissen Exhibition, and Berlin Exhibition

Awards

• 1980
  Received the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Prize and the Saga Shimbun Cultural Incentive Award at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (work later purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs)　
• 1981
  Received the Governor's Award at the Sage Prefecture Exhibition　
• 1983
  Received the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Prize at the Western Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition　
• 1988
  Received the Prime Minister's Award at the Western Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition (Western Japan Ceramic Awards), the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Incentive Award at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition, and the Member's Grand Prize at the Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Incentive Award at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition　
• 1999
  Received the Second Prize at the Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramics Exhibition