Yumiko Iihoshi is a pottery artist who creates products that exude the warmth of handmade craftsmanship without leaving any trace of her own, inspiring users. Starting March 29th, she will be participating in the "Meets. - Yumiko Iihoshi & Kagoshima Mutsumi Exhibition" at The Stage #5, Center Park, 5th floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building. We visited her studio to ask about her most memorable "Meets." encounters with people, things, and objects. ■The teacher from art university who guided me to my current style ---This is your second time participating in the "Meets." project, following your participation in 2016. Can you tell us about an unforgettable "Meets."? It was with a professor from your time at art university. My teacher, who studied under Tomimoto Kenkichi, the father of modern ceramics, not only taught me practical skills but also taught me ways of thinking and attitudes toward my work that are still relevant today, and he had a great influence on me. After graduating from junior college, I worked for a company that imported and exported tableware and miscellaneous goods. I loved tableware and made it as a hobby. However, I began to strongly desire to become a potter, so I enrolled in an art college in Kyoto to learn how to use the potter's wheel to master the techniques.

--You said that your way of thinking and attitude influenced the company you're today, Iihoshi. What exactly do you mean by that?

I was taught to consider when making things: whether to make pottery for my own satisfaction or to make pottery to share with the world, and if so, how to deliver it to the world. I'm grateful that I was able to learn while always facing my future, whether to aim to become a craftsman or to create stylish products.



--Perhaps this is connected to what Iihoshi often talks about: making things without leaving any trace of the artist's hand, but still conveying the warmth of being handmade.

After graduating, I chose to create a style of tableware and mass-produce it. In doing so, I wanted to eliminate as much of the maker's presence as possible, creating tools that would evoke the user's own memories and thoughts. However, they are all still made by hand by the pottery craftsmen. That's why the warmth of having been made by hand remains somewhere, just as the degree of glaze applied can make each plate look slightly different, even if they are the same.

--I hear that you occasionally visit your mentor, your teacher.

I still visit his solo exhibitions from time to time. He has never come to one of my solo exhibitions, though (laughs).




■Popular artist Mutsumi Kagoshima and a Hungarian glass workshop

--Your collaborative collection "floro" with popular artist Mutsumi Kagoshima was a big hit in last year's Meets Project. What will the second installment, currently in production, look like?

"Floro" was designed as a one-of-a-kind plate, inspired by the idea of serving small amounts of delicious food, and was also made to be usable as a decorative plate. This time, we considered daily use and created a dish that would not get scratched even when stacked. After that, we all came up with a name together and decided on "Floro Drop."



--Compared to the first collection, it's much lighter. And it has a lovely, tightly tapered shape. Kagoshima's illustrations have a fun and dynamic feel.

We plan to release the flower bud motif in four colors. This is the second time, and since we understand each other's strengths, the vessels are even more satisfying. We commission the creations from trusted Arita ware artisans, and when Kagoshima's illustrations are added to the prototype, their excitement changes completely (laughs). Their illustrations are not just cute and fun, but also inspiring. Kagoshima herself has a bright and wonderful personality, and she always inspires me.

--I heard that a new glassware collection made in a Hungarian workshop will also be unveiled at "Meets." What kind of products did you create?

I've visited several Hungarian glass workshops, but the workshop we commissioned this time was completely different from the others from the moment I entered. It's a glassblowing workshop, and I'm sure the aspirations and high technical skills of the artisans contribute to the workshop's atmosphere. I really wanted to have them made here. I'm making six types of dessert cups and plates. They responded to my detailed requests, such as making the size larger and making certain parts uniform, and I think the finished product is glassware unlike anything I've ever seen before.



--Please tell us about the joys and challenges of working with glass, which is different from the porcelain you usually work with.

Glassware can express a transparency and thinness that porcelain doesn't have. It's fascinating to be able to come up with shapes and designs that aren't possible with porcelain. I'm looking forward to seeing how people will view my creations, which I made without being bound by the rules of glassware.


■The "leisure" that makes iihoshi yumiko

--Since launching your products as "yumiko iihoshi porcelain" in 2007, you've developed a variety of collections. What do you value most in your craftsmanship now?

I don't want to create tools that are just for my own satisfaction, but products that will enrich the lives of those who use them, even if just a little. I also want to build long-term relationships with the potteries and workshops I work with, even if it's just for small quantities, rather than just a one-time purchase.

--Your studio is bright and comfortable with high ceilings. What do you value in spending time here and in your daily life?

I try not to cram too much into your space. Even when traveling, you often see things more clearly when you have the leisure to do so. I think that kind of space is important in both work and life. I like vessels with a bit of room to spare, as is the case with the vessels I make. At first, the potter asked me several times if the size was okay (laughs). Large vessels look great on display, and the white space allows the user to express their individuality. I believe that space and white space contribute to making life just a little richer.



"Meets.", to be held at the main building of Isetan Shinjuku, will feature the full lineup of yumiko iihoshi porcelain's existing collections, as well as new works such as "Floro Drop," a collaborative collection with Mutsumi Kagoshima, and a Hungarian crystal collection. You're sure to find tableware with a sense of space that will enrich your life just a little.


[Event Information]
"Meets.- Yumiko Iihoshi & Mutsumi Kagoshima Exhibition"
Dates: March 29th - April 11th
Venue: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 5th Floor, Center Park/The Stage #5

The first installment will feature the second work in the "Floro" series, a collaborative work with Yumiko Iihoshi that received a great response following last year's. The second installment will feature collaborative works with an overseas artist living in the UK.
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