Born in Shigaraki, Japan, 1936
Lives and works in Shigaraki, Japan
Yasuhisa Kohyama is a ceramic artist with a profound interest in the past. He has studied historical Japanese ceramics and admires the power of these pieces. He wants to capture this legacy, intuitively, and to draw upon their spirit in a way which is not alien to his own character and work. (1)
Kohyama has taken two ancient traditions, wood-firing and hand-building and has devoted the last fifty-five years of his career to perfecting their use. Equally important is his embrace of contemporary life, and his bold and poetic use of line, mass, and form; he is fully aware of the sculptural possibilities available to him. A love of nature and a life-long interest in sculpture and architecture have also inspired his work.
(1) Yasuhisa Kohyama. Interview by Susan Jefferies, Toronto. Nov. 22-23, 2010.
From: Yasuhisa Kohyama, The Art of Ceramics, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, 2012, p. 9