Zero- Mika Sato solo exhibition
2025.12.02 - 2025.12.30
Exhibition Statement
“I have been researching porcelain nerikomi techniques for 18 years, since 2007.I had long been interested in glasswork, which allows for three-dimensional depth in patterns, and so I became interested in the transparent, glass-like porcelain material and the nerikomi technique, which allows patterns to penetrate through it.
However, at the beginning of 2007, I had never met any artists who created porcelain nerikomi pieces, so I began by trial and error.
I struggled through numerous failures and trials. Needing knowledge about nerikomi, I visited Mr. Murofushi, who creates nerikomi pieces with clay, and he taught me the basic know-how, but the clay know-how I used didn't work with porcelain.
He refused to create nerikomi pieces using porcelain, but my enthusiasm was undiminished, so I repeatedly approached him about researching porcelain together, and finally he agreed.
This marked the beginning of a chemical reaction between his wisdom, technical ability, and my passion.
Until the know-how of porcelain nerikomi was established, it was difficult to succeed even with the size of a tea bowl, and the first porcelain nerikomi exhibition we held was an exhibition of small plates and bowls. However, my master and I were so busy exploring the possibilities of porcelain nerikomi that we learned about its unique characteristics and accumulated small pieces of know-how. We eventually reached the point where we could create large pieces that could be exhibited at traditional craft exhibitions. The hitherto unseen field of porcelain nerikomi was established and became recognized in Japan.
My style has always been focused on patterns. I've always loved glasswork, and I was fascinated by the fact that translucent porcelain gives the illusion of glass, yet allows for the intricate patterns that glass cannot. My color palette also revolved around pale colors that allow light to pass through easily. At the time, I was primarily making lamps. As my exhibitions increased, I began making tableware and large pieces, but in shapes that were easy to make.
After meeting with Enders, the Founder and Director of Touch Ceramics, my work changed more and more every year. Enders would offer very fresh suggestions. This completely transformed my concept of nerikomi. With my preconceived notions removed, the range of shapes I wanted to create expanded greatly.
From then on, I was able to pursue the relationship between pattern and shape. Furthermore, I focused on the effects of color, which can be said to be the origin of nerikomi, and this solo exhibition is the result of a comprehensive development.”
-Mika Sato
Mika Sato has consistently pushed the boundaries of ceramic art with her pursuit of perfection, establishing herself as a highly respected and sought-after artist in the field. In 2015, she received the Grand Prize at the Kanazawa World Craft Competition and the Craft Award at the 45th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. The following year, she won the Grand Prize at the Tokyo–New York Friendship Ceramic Competition and an Excellence Award at the Hagi Exhibition. Her work has been exhibited in major cities across Japan and internationally, continually inspiring and captivating audiences worldwide.
Sato’s previous solo exhibitions at TOUCH Ceramics have been met with enthusiastic acclaim, with her pieces quickly finding homes in notable collections. Each year, she evolves and reveals new dimensions of creativity. In her latest series, "Zero," she resets her chromatic sensibilities, embarking on an exploration of the essential relationships between hue, saturation, and form. Starting from a point of "nothingness," she opens an infinite inquiry into the very nature of color.
After eighteen years of artistic exploration and refinement, this journey culminates in the courage to return to zero in pursuit of boundless expression. TOUCH Ceramics warmly invites you to step into this newborn realm of possibilities, where ceramic art and philosophical contemplation converge in a captivating dialogue.
