Always, Arita

The city of Arita is located in western Saga Prefecture, part of Kyushu province, Japan. Throughout history, Japan is known to have had the ability to create high quality pottery. The discovery of pottery stone in 17th Century around Arita city was one of the most important factors in making Arita to become the biggest porcelain producing city in Japan. It is undeniable that Arita pottery stone makes the finest quality porcelain paste, which in turn provides the best characteristics for the ceramics works.

Always, Arita is a ceramics exhibition that consists of five artists including Kitikong Tilokwattanotai, Luck Maisalee, Natthapol Wannaporn, Trevor Foster and Shin Koyama. Koyama is an Arita based ceramics artist who invited the rest of the artists to the porcelain city. During their time there, they produced sets of ceramics pieces with the combination of their specialities in art, together with newly learnt ceramic techniques. The five artists helped and supported each other to accomplish this series of works within the limited time frame of their stay. This exhibition is the results of their hard work and the proof of their adventure brought back from Arita.

The group had acquired the idea that after the firing process that strengthened soft porcelain paste to stone-like wares, they are still very fragile. Each artist brought their own unique ways of thinking and expertise in different materials to this new method of artistic expression. The results are unique porcelain wares and sculptures that transmit the individual artists specialised techniques to the audience.

Swift brush strokes which are Kitikong Tilokwattanotai’s signature were painted with vivid blue stands out on pale white colour of Arita porcelain. Maisalee and Foster who created characters straddle the line of traditional pottery and contemporary drawing. Wannaporn’s animal porcelain figures in a somewhat spiritual form or animals, sit peacefully in relaxing postures. Koyama pushed the boundary of ceramics and cartoon characters to another level. He crafted small toys and memento doll-like objects which carry Koyama’s habit of improvising and amusement. Koyama also handled tiny damaged parts with one of the most famous Japanese ceramic techniques called Kintsugi. The technique carries the ideology of fixing broken objects by not only accepting the fact that the pieces were damaged and were remade, but also embracing the broken elements as part of the new object.

The exhibition will be taking you on a journey around the space while explaining and showing traditional Aritan ceramics techniques along with the contemporary twist of each artists in the form of ceramics wares and sculptures.

The exhibition “Always, Arita” will be held from 17 November 2018 until 18 January 2019. The official opening ceremony will be held on 17 November 2018, 6:00PM onwards. SAC Art Lab allocated at De Naga Hotel 21 Soi 2 Rashmakla Moolmuang Road Tambon Phrasingh Muang Chiang Mai, 50200.