Yoko Terai

Elusive Beauty

Exhibition:  Dec. 3, 2004 - Jan. 5, 2005

... And when we feel, peer, listen, would confine

And grasp its very self, it slips away

Like the elusive beauty of a day

In autumn, leaving of its track no sign

                                     - James Herbert Morse

This exhibition hosted by Touching Stone Gallery in Santa Fe, entitled Elusive Beauty, is the American debut of Japanese ceramic artist Yoko Terai, whose sensitive, highly original work has gained critical acclaims.

Unlike many other Japanese ceramists, Yoko Terai (b. 1972) did not grow up in a historic pottery center. She picked clay as her medium by choice rather than by tradition. When Terai was an art student, she was inspired by the ground-breaking work of renowned ceramic artist Osamu Suzuki. She studied in the Department of Ceramic of the Kyoto City University of Arts, where Suzuki once taught. Her graduation work received the Mayor of Kyoto Prize, an honor claimed by few artists of her age. After graduating in 1995, Terai sought apprenticeship under ceramist Nobuo Nojima in Uji City. Her mentor quickly recognized her talents and creativity, and encouraged the young artist to pursue an independent career as a full-time artist.

Terai is fascinated by seeing beauty in things ordinary, a gift she inherited from her artist mother and architect father. She also has an uncommon ability to capture such intangible beauty with grace and sensitivity, and allow her audience to share her vision. She approaches ceramic from an artist’s angle, using clay as a means to turn her aesthetic visions into forms. Her approach is thus quite different from many other Japanese ceramists who build careers along traditional pottery styles. Not having to conform to traditions gives Terai complete freedom to explore and create her uniquely personal style.

Terai rarely uses the potter’s wheel (another departure from traditions). Instead, she starts with drawings of conceptual designs, and builds most of her pieces by hands. Functionality seems incidental in her work. When she is satisfied with the general designs, she just set her hands free to mold the curves and surfaces into their final forms as if guided by instinct. The resulting pieces are defined by graceful curves that seem to flow delicately between positive and negative spaces, revealing the essence of the forms as one’s eyes follow the lines. Finally, their flowing forms are barely covered by shades of pale monochromatic tones, achieved by applying a thin glaze made from titanium oxide crystals. Overall, the gentle delicate forms, smooth texture and airy hues evoke a noble, unmistakably feminine sensuous feel.

Since 1997, Yoko Terai has exhibited extensively in Japan, and her work has received many awards and recognition. The current show features her recent works that exemplify the grace and sensitivity of her style.

Click on images to view selected pieces

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r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #6 21" x 15.5" x 3.5"H  (3 views) Sold
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #7 12" x 9.5" x 3"H  (3 views) Sold
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #11 9.5"H x 7.5" x 3.5"  (2 views) Sold				r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #12 17"H x 4.5" x 4.5"  (2 views) Sold
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #25 14.5"H x 3.5" x 3.5"  (2 views) Sold				r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #26 13"H x 4" x 3"  (2 views) Sold
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #2 8" x 6.5" x 3"H  (2 views) Sold				r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #9 10" x 4.5" x 2"H  (2 views) Sold
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #4 9.5" x 4.5" x 4"H (2 views) Sold				r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #10 10.5" x 3.5" x 2.5"H  (2 views) Sold
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #3 6.5" x 6.5" x 5"H (2 views) Sold				r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #13 5" x 5" x 7" (2 views)
r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #14 4" / 4.5" x 4" x 3"   (2 pc set) Sold				r Elusive Beauty  ceramic form #15 7.5" x 2.5" x 2.5"   (2 pc set) Sold
r Elusive Beauty ceramic forms #23 (L)  #24 (R)  5.5"H x 2.5" x 2.5";  4.5"H x 3" x 3" respectively  #24 Sold		r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #5  5.5"H x 3" x 3" Sold				r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #1  6"H x 3" x 2.5" Sold
r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #27 7" x 4" x 4.5"H Sold		r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #31 5" x 4.5" x 4.5"H Sold				r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #8 6.5" x 3" x 5"H Sold
r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #16 12" x 2" x 1"				r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #17 11" x 2.5" x 2" Sold
r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #18 13" x 2.5" x 0.5"  (w/ hole in back for hanging)  Sold	r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #19 9" x 3" x 1"  (w/ hole in back for hanging)  Sold		r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #20 10" x 2.5" x 1"  (w/ hole in back for hanging)  Sold		r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #21 13" / 14.5" x 0.5" x 0.5"  (2 pc. set w/ hole in back for hanging)  Sold		r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #22 8.5" x 2.5" x 1"  (for hanging)
r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #30 11.5"H x 5.5" x 2"  (2 views)				r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #28 12"H x 6" x 2"  (2 views)
r Elusive Beauty ceramic form #29 16"H x 9" x 3"  (2 views) Sold

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Updated February 5, 2010

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