[Ceramic artist: Shintaro Enami] From his studio, an extension of his daily life
In a residential area of Shigaraki.
In a corner of a row of modern houses, there is a house where you can hear the laughter of children.
If you go around to the back, you will find a small hut in a slightly unexpected place.
This is the current home and studio of ceramic artist Shintaro Enami.
When you open the door to the workshop, the outside air is completely blocked and you can feel the density of the air change.
There were no loud noises, only the low whir of the potter's wheel and the faint scraping of the clay.
Outside the window, there is a vast expanse of greenery, and depending on the time of day, the soft sunset shines into the workshop.
The tidy workshop is a strangely calming space that feels like a secret base.
*A corner of the workshop
The vessels lined up on the shelves have a tranquil appearance, with white and beige as the main colors.
There is no unnecessary decoration, and the outline is very neat.
However, upon closer inspection, the undulating patterns and overlapping shadows create a sense of sculptural depth.
The shape is dignified yet somehow soft, and although it exudes elegance, it does not give a heavy impression.
What's amazing is that it has such a strong presence yet harmonizes with any dish.
No matter who picks it up, there is room for it to naturally become familiar to them.
This dish will fit seamlessly into your everyday dining table as well as for special occasions.
Enami doesn't say much while he's working on the project.
The way they silently work their hands and continue to face the clay naturally conveys their high level of concentration and the fact that this place is an extension of their everyday lives.
Having the workshop close to where we live made the creation of art feel like a natural part of our everyday lives, rather than a special time.
Currently, this workshop is in a temporary state.
He has set up a new workshop about 10 minutes by car from his home.
He and his father-in-law are currently renovating the traditional Japanese-style house so that it can be used as a workshop.
He said he would like to expand the work space and add a gallery in the future.
He wants this to be more than just a place to make pottery; I want it to be a place where people can gather, pick up pottery, and have conversations.
His gaze is already directed towards the next scene.
His goal is to create a workshop that is rooted in the local community.
A place where people can stop by as an extension of their daily lives, rather than as a tourist destination.
A place where you can experience the background behind the creation of each piece of pottery.
The open appearance of Enokami's pottery is deeply resonant with the nature of such spaces.
As dusk envelops the workshop and the greenery outside the window casts shadows, today's production comes to an end.
Thanks to Mr. Enami's kindness, we were able to have a meal with his family at the end of the day.
The dishes were, of course, from Mr. Enokami. The oyakodon we had was somehow nostalgic and put us in a calm mood.
The peaceful time spent at the dinner table is the very air that surrounds the tableware.
It was a moment that made me realize that this lifestyle is the driving force behind Enokami's creative work.
