ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS – Every time Tae Uesaka, a ceramic artist applies her brush to a piece of pottery, it appears to come to life. With a delicate touch resembling a needle, she creates chrysanthemum petals on the clay surface on each one.
Uesaka, a renowned painter in Kyoto’s traditional ceramics scene, portrays the beauty of Shiragiku Sokyu, which translates to “white chrysanthemum and blue sky”.
Her artwork depicts elegant white chrysanthemums floating against a clear blue sky, evoking the imagery of clouds.
She garners acclaim for her skill, having earned numerous awards for tea bowls and cups decorated with the Shiragiku Sokyu design.
“I’ve loved looking at the sky since I was a child,” said Uesaka, with a smile as she paused her breathtaking work.
Born in Gunma prefecture, Uesaka worked in the apparel industry after graduating from high school. She later ran a restaurant in her hometown. Then she faced a serious, life-threatening illness before jumping into the world of ceramics.
One morning at the age of 29, she was struck by an unusual headache. Her limbs were paralysed, and she went blind in her left eye. She was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured brain tumor.
“I thought my life was over since I heard someone say, ‘It’s too late.’ I was able to come back with cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” she said.
Even after her condition improved, she was in and out of the hospital for a while.
BECOMING AN APPRENTICE
Uesaka had an unexpected encounter with Kiyomizuyaki ware one day when she was watching TV. A programme was showing the important cultural property Iroe Keshimon Chatsubo (tea-leaf jar decorated with poppies) by Nonomura Ninsei, a pottery master in Kyoto in the 17th Century.
Ceramics and porcelain produced in kilns in Kyoto are collectively called Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware.
When she saw the painting of poppies coloured in gold, silver and red, she trembled as if the blood in her body flowed backwards.
“‘How beautiful,’ I thought. The moment I saw it, I knew I was going to do this job,” she said.
Uesaka went to Kyoto to visit Zensho Yamaoka, a potter who had appeared on the programme.
When she visited his studio after making repeated requests, she asked to become his apprentice.
Although rejected initially, she did not give up. While studying at a vocational training school for ceramics among other places, she was eventually allowed to become his apprentice. Uesaka was given the pseudonym “Zenmyo” after three years of working under Yamaoka and began her career as an independent artist five years ago. – Hirosato Nishida
