A Research On Artistic Characteristics Of Arakawa Toyozou’s Pottery Works

In 1930,Arakawa Toyozou found the Shinoyaki kiln of Momoyama period in Oogaya.What Arakawa Toyozou found had overturned the original knowledge of Japanese ceramics to Shinoyaki and Minoyaki,established the position of Minoyaki in the history of Japanese ceramics and made Minoyaki too important to ignore in the history.As a ceramist,he revitalized the ancient ceramic pottery skills of Minoyaki,which had been lost for hundreds of years in Shinoyaki,Setokuro and Kiseto.He also improved his works with “Nature” as creative idea,making them full of his unique artistic temperament.In this way,he created contemporary Momoyama ceramics,which vastly revealed ancient rhyme and his personal charisma.In the 1950 s,Arakawa Toyozou was recognized as “treasure of human” in Shinoyaki and Setokuro areas.He became one of the most iconic ceramists in Showa period in Japan.This paper is divided into four parts and discusses from different angles.The first part is to discuss Arakawa Toyozou’s creation view and the reason for his creation,so as to understand the origin of his ceramic style.The second part studies the composition characteristics of the shape and form of Arakawa Toyozou’s pottery works,which are divided into three categories: tea bowl and water-holding,vase and incense box,tokuri and wine cup.The third part studies the language characteristics of the glaze color of Arakawa Toyozou’s pottery works,which are divided into three sections: Shinoyaki,Setokuro,and Kiseto.It’s also a closer look at the uniqueness of his way of using glaze.The fourth part studies the surface decoration methods of Arakawa Toyozou’s pottery works,which are divided into three aspects: engobe and iron painting skills,black glazed gold and red painting techniques,ceramic painting and mixed techniques.It is hoped that this paper could have a specific and clear explanation of the artistic characteristics of Arakawa’s works.