Japanese potter Shigemitsu Ohashi is fascinated by the moon. His ceramic recreation of it takes centre stage at his new solo show Beyond the sky and at hand on now at Toi MAHARA in Waikanae.
‘I feel the moon is special in the solar system. I believe that the formation of moon billions years ago created our early Earth and led to the emergence of life.’
Ohashi spends a lot of time watching images from the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope and the NASA project. He says, ‘When I consider how the planets were created over such a vast span of time, they truly stir my soul.’
Sixteen ceramic works are on display at the gallery, all of which were created during his time as summer Resident Artist at The Kilns at Te Horo. The Kilns complex is the former home of celebrated New Zealand ceramicist Mirek Smíšek (OBE) who lived there from 1970 to 2000. The Kilns celebrates his legacy through offering visits to the hand-built beehive kilns, artists’ residencies, exhibitions and workshops.
Ohashi has a long association with Smíšek whom he met on his first visit to New Zealand. The trip was formative for Ohashi and when he decided to become a fulltime potter in 2000, he chose New Zealand as the place to begin that journey.
Ohashi now travels between New Zealand and Japan. He has been working on ceramic recreations of the moon and planets for the last six years, although he also makes utilitarian pieces such as vases and bowls. When asked whether he has a preference for practical or art objects he says, ‘I always make whatever takes my fancy at the time.’
Ohashi describes the process of making pottery as one of trial and error and it’s a process that he enjoys. He had many unexpected results during the six month residency at The Kilns, one of which can be seen in the work titled Disastrous!