Shigemasa Minami

About the Artist

The Beauty of Nature Living On in Kutani Ware

Ceramic artist Shigemasa Minami uses glaze made from malachite, a mineral, and creates unique, light green based pieces. After working as a tableware pattern designer, he started working as a ceramic artist.
He makes his artwork being inspired by scenes in nature close by, especially animals and plants that he sees in his garden, and draws sensitive yet bold compositions of flowers and birds on flower vases and large plates. The sophisticated colors that he uses is a treat for the eyes. He is highly evaluated for his precise portrayals of animals and plants in his artwork, and was designated as a member of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Association, an organization of an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Ishikawa Prefecture in 2010.

Style

Making colored porcelain ware using material from my hometown to express what I feel from the natural scenery that changes through the seasons.

Biography

• 1950
  Born in Yunotanimachi, Terai Town, Nomi County, Ishikawa Prefecture
• 1969
  Graduated from Komatsu Technical High School, Mechanical Engineering Department
• 1971
  Joined Nikko Ceramics Co., Ltd. (current NIKKO Company), worked in the design office ( up to 1982)
• 1972
  Completed the 2nd period Kutani Ware trainee course
• 1978
  Selected for the 2nd Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition for the first time
• 1979
  Took part in the product design and development of NIKKO Company's "Pioneer" series
• 1980
  Selected for the 21st Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time
  Selected for the 27th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected 34 times from this year onward)
  Selected for the 42nd Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition for the first time
• 1981
  Started working at the Terai Town Kutaniyaki Museum (current Kutani Porcelain Art Museum) (up to 1991)
• 1983
  Selected for the 11th Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts
• 1986
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 1989
  First ceramics exhibition at Ginza Matsuya and other various places
• 1991
  Dedicates himself to making pottery in Terai Town, Nomi County
• 1992
  Nominated as member of the Issuikai Exhibition ceramics division
• 1993
  Invited to the "Social Gathering for People Showing Outstanding Performance in Arts and Culture" sponsored by Prime Minister Miyazawa
• 1997
  Submitted to the 38th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition as judge (4 times from this year onward)
• 1998
  Nominated as committee member of the Issuikai Ceramics Division
• 1999
  NHK BS2 TV program Yakimono Tanbo "Melody of Green Playing the Song of the Seasons" broadcasted
  "Selected Artworks of Artists in Ishikawa" Exhibition at Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  Submitted to the Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition as judge (4 times from this year onward up to 2011)
• 2001
  Selected for the 16th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
  Selected for the 48th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (artwork purchased by the Imperial Household Agency)
• 2005
  Moves ceramics studio to Matsugaoka, Nomi City
• 2006
  Starts using lead-free Japanese paint
• 2008
  Submitted to the 36th New Works Ceramics Exhibition (supervised by the "NIKKO Company 100th Anniversary ART COLLECTION") held by Full Members of the Japan Kōgei Association as judge
• 2010
  Designated as Member of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Association, an organization of an Important Intangible Cutural Property of Ishikawa Prefecture
• 2011
  Submitted to the 34th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition as a member of the Kutani Ware Technique Preservation Association
• 2018
  Submitted to the 46th Ceramics Traditional Kōgei Exhibition as judge
• 2021
  Submitted to the 8th Tobiten as judge

Awards

• 1972
  Awarded at the 10th Kutani Ware New Works Exhibition ('76)
• 1976
  Awarded at the 10th Kutani Ware New Works Exhibition
• 1982
  Received the Issuikai Award at the 44th Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition ('85)
• 1983
  Received the Honorable Mention Award at the 2nd Kutaniyaki Industrial Design Contest
• 1985
  Received the Issuikai Award at the 47th Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition
• 1986
  Received the Excellence Award at the 9th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 39th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1993
  Received the Excellence Award at the 1st BONSAI Vessels Exhibition
  Received the Issuikai Members' Excellence Award at the 55th Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition
• 1994
  Received the Excellence Award at the 17th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
  Received the Excellence Award at the 35th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1998
  Received the Incentive Award at the 21st Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
  Received the Issuikai Members' Excellence Award at the 60th Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition
• 1999
  Received the Excellence Award at the 22nd Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2000
  Received the Excellence Award at the 23rd Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2001
  Received the Technical Award at the 24th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2002
  Received the Excellence Award at the 25th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2003
  Received the Grand Award at the 26th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2006
  Received the Grand Award at the 29th Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2007
  Received the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Special Award at the 48th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2010
  Received the Incentive Award at the 33rd Traditional Kutaniyaki Craft Exhibition
• 2019
  Received the 60th Anniversary Grand Award at the 60th Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2020
  Received the 14th Generation Kakiemon Memorial Award at the 7th Tobiten

Public Collections

• Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
• Keisei Isogaya Museum
• The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
• Amagasaki Shinkin Bank
• The Kutani Porcelain Art Museum
• Anamizu Town Hall (Housu County, Ishikawa)
• Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Takagi Bonsai Museum