kyoto, japan houses the Raku family' s museum, exhibiting the history of
the family's pottery
there are catalog publications to purchase there in english or japanese, of
most recent a revised exhibition catalog from recent exhibits of 1998 etc.,
in holland, france and italy
to paraphrase the opening text by Raku XV Kichizaemon (Mr. Raku), he draws a
destinction of artistic movements in the west versus japan.
in the west new artistic styles are often brought forth by denying old ones
as an academic flow of inheriting tradition
in japan, inheriting tradition is the means by which new artistic styles are
created, without denying old ones..."tradition is the accumulation of
innovation"
the Raku family's ceramics is a type of inheriting tradition derived from
japan's social/familal system and nature of japanese culture, in which
objective and subjective creative processes remain attached to develop a
spiritual perspective
whereas with western/american raku the creative style only leads to an
objective idiological outline of cultural evolutions and phenomena which
rapidly come and go
never the less, Mr. Raku XV goes on to recognize the family's ceramics as
"raku ware" as "glazed earthenware" and "an artistic formulation with a
history and characteristic style supported by a unique aesthetic and
philosophy"
as to overseas raku ware, he states: "the name Raku, which was orginally
carried only by the Raku family, has now been established as a more general
term for a type of ceramics. Today it has even become known worldwide
thanks to a number of professional and amatuer potters in America as well as
in European and Asian countries who practice Raku firing. This Raku ware
made oversease demonstrates a variety of expressions free from historical
context as well as from the traditional style cherished in Japan."
Mr. Raku XV goes on to conclude: "With knowledge of Raku ware now spread
worldwide, it seems necessary to cultivate a basic and better understanding
of the original Raku. This may lead to the further development of new Raku
ware as more than just the fruit of temporary cultual encounters.
Furthermore, it may also be necessary to find a name for this Raku ware such
as "new low-fired ceramics influenced by Raku" so that it can be seen in a
wider context, free from attachment to the name Raku"
aiko ichimura of clayart has already suggested this in a past posting
any ideas for a new name?
noel oard mapstead
