Ceramics in Its Natural State, by Takashi Endo

Raw, refined… Takashi Endo‘s ceramic pieces are an homage to minimalism in its purest form. His monochrome creations let the imperfection of their materials appear, as a means of paying tribute to their natural origin.

The ceramicist, born in Yokohama in 1974, now lives in Kanagawa prefecture. The self-taught artist fell under the spell of this craft when observing the textures and colours of clay. ‘For me, it’s an emotion I can’t find with any other material’, he explains.

Pieces inspired by architecture

The artist is guided by intuition. Without concerning himself with techniques and materials, he works in accordance with the shapes and textures desired. ‘What is it that inspires me in particular? A high quality design, good music, and Japanese culture’, he adds. Although he uses clay from Iga and Shigaraki–two of the most emblematic regions with regard to Japanese pottery–Takashi Endo champions contemporary production.

Inspired by buildings and ancient ruins that ‘plunge [him] into deep reflections’, he creates modern pieces and lets aesthetics take precedence over function. The way he plays with textures and leaves marks on the surface reveals a taste for architecture and a desire to showcase the material. Are his works ergonomic objects or decorative pieces? One thing is for sure, the delicate nature of Takashi Endo’s creations turn the craft into a true art.

Takashi Endo’s ceramic creations can be viewed on his Instagram account.