Vessel

2008

Futamura Yoshimi makes sculptural forms inspired by burls of wood, fungi, and other natural phenomena. She hand-builds the pieces, tearing the clay to create ragged edges, and she pats a coarse dust of crushed porcelain on the surface before firing. The clay expands and contracts in the kiln, causing fissures in the dust covering. Whereas many male ceramicists in Japan receive their training at historical kiln sites, female ceramicists have typically been discouraged or banned from learning the traditional styles. With few ties to convention, female ceramicists have often led the way in creating new and individual approaches to clay.