Dear friends,
These two bowls were fired in the same climbing kiln: at the same time, while using the same clay and glaze, moreover, both bowls were created by the same artist, so do you really wonder how this is possible and why they look different?
Kifumi Kawamura, is a well know ceramic artist. While looking at his work, I recall him saying something very interesting about the climbing kiln; "when I look inside the climbing kiln the fire is so beautiful that it makes me wonder if there is a God. On the other hand, even when I look into a gas kiln, which has the same temperature as the climbing kiln, I have never felt the same beauty of fire." Does the fire God exist in the climbing kiln?
This climbing kiln was inherited by Kifumi's grandfather from Rosanjin, one of the most famous ceramic artists in Japan. After Rosanjin's death, the kiln was abandoned for a while, however, his grandfather fixed it and it has been used by his grandfather, his father, and himself.
The most difficult thing to control in a climbing kiln is the temperature: it is very difficult to distribute the firewood evenly in the kiln and to raise the temperature evenly. You must maintain a certain temperature for a period of time. The temperature should be increased eventually to 1300 Celsius degrees and should be decreased slowly. One can only rely on experience and intuition to make it work well. If the temperature control fails, the color development will be very poor and the results could be unsuccessful.
When the firewood burns, the ash is in the air and falls onto the ceramic surface, and it undergoes a change called ash glaze. This change brings unique color and texture to the work this process cannot be controlled by the artist. The outcome is controlled by the power of fire, and the only thing the artist can do is throw firewood in the fire at the right time. The natural phenomena unfolding inside the climbing kiln will bring out the ultimate beauty of nature beyond human imagination. I can't help but wonder if there is a fire God in the climbing kiln. Please look at these tea bowls and you may find new and exciting things.
When the firewood burns, the ash is in the air and falls onto the ceramic surface, and it undergoes a change called ash glaze. This change brings unique color and texture to the work this process cannot be controlled by the artist. The outcome is controlled by the power of fire, and the only thing the artist can do is throw firewood in the fire at the right time. The natural phenomena unfolding inside the climbing kiln will bring out the ultimate beauty of nature beyond human imagination. I can't help but wonder if there is a fire God in the climbing kiln. Please look at these tea bowls and you may find new and exciting things.
All the best,
Kumiko
Photo by Toshiyuki Mizuta
Edited by Janice Ensminger