When I aspired to become a ceramic artist, I chose an Arita ware kiln to train. There, professionals mastered various processes like molding, painting, and firing. Inside the factory, bisque plates circulated on conveyor belts, and small trucks loaded with plate molds crisscrossed the town. Despite my desire to meticulously craft by hand, as a newcomer, my role was limited to loading kilns. Gradually, my passion for ceramics seemed to endlessly circle the conveyor belt, going nowhere.
During this time, I met Ryota Ishihara's father. He worked as a designer and mold maker in a kiln in Hasami Town, next to Arita, and created various pieces privately. His studio was a haven not just for ceramics but also for handmade furniture and fixtures, filled with a pleasant atmosphere. I spent every free moment at the Ishihara family's studio, learning everything from mold-making to firing techniques, and we discussed everything from the division of labor in ceramics to design. Looking back, I realize how naive some of my questions must have seemed, but he always listened intently, laughing along with me. Those days gradually restored my motivation and confidence. "Create the place where you realize what you want to do," became my burgeoning belief, leading me to leave the kiln I was indebted to and start my own creations while working night shifts.
I consider Ryota and myself like brothers in apprenticeship. It's thrilling to create together again now, each interpreting what his father taught us in our own way and having established our brands.
We are introducing two collections this time. The 'ASH Series' features forms created by Ryota, finished with a glaze mixed with volcanic ash, and the 'CULTIVAITE Series,' which uses clay from Kagoshima's Bonotsu, shaped by Ryota on the potter's wheel.
Having independently experienced every step of production, I've come to profoundly understand the origins of our materials. This collection represents a collaboration built with the help of professionals and various people in Kagoshima and Nagasaki.
In the future we envision together, there's a dining table overflowing with smiles.
ONE KILN Yusuke Kido
Pebble Ceramic Design Studio Ceramic Designer / Ceramic Artist Ryota Ishihara 1983: Born in Hasami Town, Nagasaki Prefecture 2002: Graduated from the Ceramics Department at Saga Prefectural Arita Technical High School 2005: Studied abroad at the University of Art and Design Halle, Germany 2006: Graduated from Saga Prefectural Arita Ceramic College 2007: Worked at an interior goods company in Fukuoka, engaged in product development and the creation of promotional materials 2013: Established Pebble Ceramic Design Studio as an independent business 2017: Moved to Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and began creating art in both Hasami Town, Nagasaki Prefecture, and Itoshima City https://pebble-st.com/
