THE 16,000-YEAR JOURNEY OF JAPANESE CERAMICS

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkiye and Japan, the exhibition "Japanese Ceramics from the Idemitsu Art Museum Collection" opened at the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. The works, exhibited from September 16 to November 2, recounted a millennia-long journey from the Jŏmon period to Itaya Hazan, the pioneer of modern ceramic art.

FATMA BATUKAN BELGE

In Japan, where the world's oldest ceramics are found, the history of ceramics dates back to the Jŏmon Period, which began around 14,000 BC. Nowhere else in the world have ceramics been found that date back thousands of years, compared to the hand-shaped ceramics produced by the hunter-gatherer Jŏmon society. Ceramics, with their roots stretching back thousands of years, are ingrained in every aspect of daily life in Japan and passed down as a cultural heritage. Today, 32,000 ceramicists continue to honor this art form.

The exhibition "Japanese Ceramics from the Collection of the Idemitsu Art Museum" at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts revealed the development of ceramic art, a field of special significance in Japan, from its inception to the modern era. The 59 works, exhibited from September 16 to November 2, recounted a millennia-long process stretching from the Jŏmon period to Itaya Hazan, the pioneer of modern ceramic art.

While Japanese culture has been heavily influenced by mainland Chinese and Korean cultures, ceramic art has developed in its own unique way. Ceramicists on the islands have created softer, more naturalistic ceramics, showcasing their unique characteristics. These ceramics are in harmony with nature in terms of form and color, thanks to the advantages of clay and the use of natural glazes. Japanese ceramicists are free from concerns about perfect or symmetrical forms or the appearance of homogeneous glazes. However, there are also extremely elaborate and colorfully decorated ceramics, such as Imari porcelain, which were exported to the West.

Early Period Japanese Ceramics

The exhibition "Japanese Ceramics from the Collection of the Idemitsu Art Museum" began with the early stages of Japanese ceramic history. The first earthenware vessels, appearing 16,500 years ago, were used for everyday needs such as cooking. However, some also possessed highly ornamental and decorative qualities. The deep vessel with a flame motif in this exhibition was an impressive example of the earthenware decorated with the string/cord decorations that gave its name to the Jŏmon period. More sophisticated shaping and firing methods introduced by immigrants from China in the Late Jŏmon period led to changes in Japanese ceramics. The most profound changes occurred with the establishment of contact with Korea during the Kofun period. Natural ash glazes, the anagama kilns (a single-chamber kiln built in an inclined tunnel) that enabled their firing, and the foot-turned potter's wheel all came from Korea. Gray Sue ceramics are also a tradition initiated by Korean ceramicists who migrated to Japan.

The Development of Glazed Ceramics

The ceramics in this section of the exhibition encompassed examples produced from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Imported Chinese white porcelains and celadons, notable for their glossy glazes, were highly acclaimed in Japan. While domestic porcelain production was not yet feasible at the time, glazed ceramics, based on Chinese examples, flourished in centers such as Seto and Mino.

The transfer of tea ceremony rituals from China to Japan was another significant development. The ceremony required a wide range of items, including small, lidded tea jars, cups, cake plates, water jugs, incense burners, and vases. While expensive ceramics from China were initially used, it was recognized that local products embodied the qualities required by the philosophy of "beauty through poverty," and the wabi style (a simple tea ceremony based on the philosophy of seeing beauty in nature's imperfection and impermanence) developed.

The first porcelain production in Japan occurred in Arita around 1610. Arita, or Imari porcelain as the Europeans called it, was one of Japan's most popular exports and influenced European porcelain. The exhibition featured exquisite examples of Japanese porcelain, which met international demand after imports from China's Jingdezhen kilns ceased in the mid-17th century.

From Artisans to Art Educateds: Modern Ceramics

The influence of the art schools established in 1868, as a centralized and modern Japanese nation emerged with the Meiji Reform, also influenced ceramics. Ceramicists who did not originate from traditional ceramic production centers but received artistic training, such as Tomimoto Kenkichi and Itaya Hazan, began to emerge from this period. Itaya Hazan, a pioneering artist who opened a new chapter in Japanese ceramics history, is also represented by his parrot- and floral-patterned vases.

The exhibition, which opened with the participation of Princess Akiko of Japan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi, and President of the Idemitsu Art Museum Sachiko Idemitsu, offered an opportunity to see the breathtaking beauty of Japanese ceramics. Furthermore, the presentation of the works brought from Japan, an earthquake-prone country, to the exhibition in Istanbul, an earthquake-prone city, reflected Japanese care. The works, which had survived for thousands of years, were secured with fishing line to prevent damage in the event of a potential earthquake. We have much to learn from the Japanese, who show care and respect for everything they encounter, from people and cultural heritage to works of art and personal objects. Hontōni arigatō Nihon!