Iwao Shinno

• 1957
  Born in Kyoto
• 1980
  Graduated from Kinki University
• 1981
  Completed the Ceramics Course at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research
• 1982
  Graduated from the Kyoto Prefectural Vocational Training School of Ceramics
• 1983
  Completed the Specialised Ceramics Course at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Research
• 1987
  Established kiln in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
• 1992
  Invited to submit to the Contemporary Arts and Crafts of Kyoto Exhibition (The Museum of Kyoto)
• 1995
  Invited to submit to the “Crafts of Shiga – Traditional Ceramics” Exhibition (The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga)
• 2002
  Invited to submit to the “Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition” International Touring Exhibition
  (His work was purchased by the Japan Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
• 2003
  Invited to submit to the “Korea - Japan Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition” (Kumho Museum of Art, Seoul)
  Selected for the 17th Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition (His work was purchased by The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo)
  Designated as Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
• 2005
  Invited to submit to the “Works from the Lake Land - Ceramic Artisans of Shiga” Exhibition (The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park)
• 2006
  Invited to submit to the “Contemporary Japanese Textiles and Metalwork From Materials & Artistry to Forms” Exhibition
  (Tsukuba Museum of Art, Ibaraki/Gallery Voice)
  Invited to submit to the “Invitation to Modern Ceramic Art – Japan and Europe” (The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo)
• 2010
  Part-time instructor at the Department of Crafts in the Kyoto City University of Arts (- 2013)
• 2011
  Invited to submit to the “20th Century Ceramics – From Kenkichi TOMIMOTO to Kazuo YAGI” Exhibition
  (The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo)
• 2012
  Invited to the Artist-in-residence programme (The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park)
  Evaluator at the 59th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also at the 62nd, 65th and 67th)
• 2013
  Invited to submit to the “Challenging Ceramics of the New Age" Exhibition (The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park)
  Becomes Director of the Japan Kogei Association
  Designated as Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Shiga Prefecture
• 2014
  Invited to submit to the “From Crafts to Kogei” Exhibition (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
  Invited to submit to the “Beauty of KŌGEI:Art Crafts in Japan” Exhibition (Japan Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan /Singapore)
  Invited to submit to "Contemporary Japanese Crafts" Exhibition (Musee Tomo, Tokyo)
  Invited to submit to "Celadon Now: Techniques and Beauty Handed Down from Southern Sung to Today" ( -15) (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo etc.）
  Invited to submit to the 19th Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art, Shizuoka)
• 2015
  Art work purchased by Federik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Michigan, U.S.A.)
  Evaluator at the 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Invited to submit to "Contemporary Japanese Crafts" Exhibition (Musee Tomo, Tokyo)
• 2016
  "A Guide to Contemporary Ceramic Art" Exhibition (Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum)
  Japan Ceramic Society Awarded Artists' Exhibition (Sapporo Art Museum, Hokkaido)
  Kōgei (Modern Crafts) and the Tea Ceremony Ⅱ from the Museum Collection (The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
• 2017
  Dedicated art work to "83 Selected Treasures of the Heisei Era" (Yakushiji Temple, Nara)
  Invited to submit to the 20th Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art, Shizuoka)
• 2018
  Evaluator at the 65th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2019
  Invited to submit to the 21st Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art, Shizuoka)
  Invited to submit to the 25th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition
• 2020
  "Iwao Shinno - Tsuiji The origin of Life, and praying" Exhibition (Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Ibaraki)
  "Blue or White? - Celadon, White Porcelain and Bluish-White Porcelain" Exhibition (Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Ibaraki)
  "Ceramics of Lake Country Shiga" Exhibition ( The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga)
  "Kogei 2020 - The Art of Crafting Beauty from Nature" (Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo)
  Becomes Executive Director of the Japan Kogei Association
  Evaluator at the 67th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

My technique is to turn china clay into slip and brush on many layers to give strong figurative expressions; I have coined the term tsuiji (layered clay) to describe this technique.
My major style of work is seiji (celadon), hakuji (white porcelain), and seihakuji (pale blue porcelain) on which line patterns are layered to best show figurative expressions.

The lines created by the tsuiji technique flow from the inside to the outside through the rim to connect the inner and outer decoration; in this approach, I am aware of the integration of figurative arts where the tsuiji technique is not confined to simple surface decoration.

In my work I aim to express stillness and motion by creating forms and clay lines embodying tension and relaxation, and also capture the play of faint light and shadow on the body. I pursue an overall harmony in my work without losing the dynamic contrast of these two opposing elements.

Seeing new possibilities in sophisticated celadon

Shinnou aimed to become a ceramic artist after encountering Chinese celadon. He thought he would like to create a light, yet deep and transparent blue color, and started to learn ceramics after graduating university. His work gradually gained attention, and he has received high evaluation through the years. He has submitted his artwork to exhibitions in and outside of Japan, and many of his pieces have been added to public collections of art museums in various places. In his studio near Lake Biwa, he makes ceramic works on the theme of the root of life, inspired by the movement of water and the blue of the lake and sky. The patterns created by his unique technique called "Tsuiji" ( making slip from china clay and brushing on layers of the slip to decorate.) look like DNA spirals. The form and decorations are integrated as a whole, creating a beautiful piece that only Shinnou can make.

• 1994
  Received the Excellence Award at the 1994 Kyoto Kogei Biennale Exhibition
• 2004
  Received the Shiga Board of Education Superintendent’s Award at the 33rd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Excellence Award at the 1st Kikuchi Biennale (Musee Tomo, Tokyo)
• 2006
  Received the Shiga Board of Education Superintendent’s Award at the 35th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2009
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 56th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2011
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Chairman's Award at the 58th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2012
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
  Received the Otsu Special Cultural Award
  Received the title of Ayabe City Benefactor
  Received the Grand Prize at the 7th Paramita Ceramics Awards Exhibition (Paramita Museum, Mie)
• 2013
  Received the 23rd Shumei Culture Prize
• 2015
  Received the Japan Ceramic Society Award
• 2016
  Received the Shiga Prefecture Cultural Award

• Imperial Household Agency
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• Japan Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
• The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo
• Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum
• The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
• MIHO MUSEUM
• Ayabe City
• Otsu City
• Paramita Museum
• Musee Tomo
• Federik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
• Yakushiji Temple

• Official Site