Shiro Oni Studios Residency
In early April 2024, the opportunity arose to participate in an Anagama firing residency at Shiro Oni studios, nestled in the town of Onishi in Gunma prefecture, Japan. The residency spanned the course of six weeks, providing a ceramics studio from which to work, whilst guiding us through the process of preparing, firing and unloading an Anagama kiln. Alongside many poignant and memorable experiences, the residency culminated in an exhibition located in Onishi, illustrated through the following photographs and videos.
Whilst living and working in the town, Onishi transformed from Winter to Spring, starting with a late blossoming of cherry trees, quickly followed by verges thick with poppies and cornflowers, lining the roads and industrial plots.
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Mimicking the shapes of petals and leaves found across Onishi, as well as an interest in creating functional tableware, I created a series of ceramic platters, dishes and bowls, pinched from balls of dark red clay.
This new exploration into creating table ware was inspired by the variety of dishes used within the Japanese table setting, experienced whilst trying the variety of delicious meals in Onishi’s restaurants, meals generously cooked and shared by new friends across Onishi and communally cooking together in the artists house.
Firing the Anagama
Firing began early on a clear, May morning. After blessing the kiln we worked in shifts, stoking the firebox continually over three days and nights; through parties and meals, conversations and the silence of deep-night.
black Kite // tobi
anaguma the colour of pink sand
time is fast and slow at the same time
shooting star at 02.30am
fast-paced cheep! cheep! cheep! at the hunter's cabin...
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- notes whilst firing the kiln
The residency culminated in an exhibition in Onishi, drawing together our ideas and experiences of five weeks living in Japan, including learning how to make washi paper and style Ikebana arrangements.
Throughout the exhibition, wild grasses and flowers, banks of soft earth, water and dried leaves were used as plinths to reference particular memories from the residency; for example finding a delicate bird's nest in the forest whilst wild swimming, learning how to make paper, watching tadpoles growing in a small pond at the artist's house and smoothing clay into gaps between kiln bricks as we prepared to fire the kiln.
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sakura petals
pink elastic band
morel mushroom
an olive oil and rosemary cake, still warm from the oven
a gift of ripe Gunma tomatoes from a friend
graffiti tagline shaped like a face
a carton holding a single, boiled egg
​pruned twig that looks like a standing creature
falling asleep in the onsen whilst looking at the stars
sparkling red slippers, knitted by hand
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Small objects are also included in the show: from a sweet horse chestnut shell to a rubber band or a coffee bean. These were small, over-looked objects, seen after experiences which felt special.
- small moments from Onishi
An aspect I will cherish the most from the residency was making new friends within the community of Onishi...
Many people kindly welcomed us in, sharing cultural experiences, helping to prepare for and fire the Anagama, cooking meals and popping in for a catch up.
Thank you for your generosity and support, living in Onishi was a truly memorable experience! I hope we can meet again soon...
​The opportunity to participate within the residency was kindly supported by The Japan Society of Scotland, Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland.​