New ceramic Buddhas and Buddhist utensils are on display. Ryusuke Asai’s exhibition “A glimpse of the divine inhabiting the universe” is currently being held in Ginza

Saturday, November 11, 2023 – Friday, November 24, 2023 11:00-19:00 (closes at 17:00 on the last day)
Closed on Tuesdays / Free admission Venue: Gallery Zushiya

Gallery Zushiya (Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), which guides you through various forms of prayer, is holding an exhibition by Ryusuke Asai, a potter and calligrapher, titled “A glimpse of the universe where God dwells'' until November 24th (Friday). I am.

Ryusuke Asai Exhibition “A glimpse of the divine universe”
Saturday, November 11, 2023 – Friday, November 24, 2023 11:00-19:00 (closes at 17:00 on the last day) Closed on Tuesdays / Free admission
Venue: Gallery Zushiya [B1F, Ginza 105 Building, 1-4-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo] TEL: 03-3538-5118
Artist in the gallery: 11/11 (Sat), 12 (Sun), 17 (Fri), 23 (Thu/Holiday)

“If you listen to the voice of the nightingale, maybe tomorrow you will be able to have a more spring-like heart.'' May you hear the voice of a kind and generous person…May light shine in your heart.
The universe where God resides. I hope my creations are just a glimpse of that. Ryusuke Asai

・My first Buddhist statue production. Going back to basics, I also tried burning the fields.

For this special exhibition, Mr. Asai worked on a Buddhist statue for the first time. Regarding the creation of Buddhist statues, he says:
“I have never thought carefully about the shape of a prayer before.I left it to the presence and sensation of the clay, paying careful attention to the facial expressions of my hands, and as little attention to everything else as possible.Children I had the opportunity to do a workshop with them, and they were creating a lot of interesting things without thinking about it.I always think that this is how things should be, and I wish I could create something like that too. ”

In addition, the Buddha statues have an impressive unique gradation, and this color tone is the result of his own open-air burning technique, which is his first.
“I wanted to try creating something that went back to the origins of pottery, like Jomon pottery.When clay is exposed to fire, it undergoes a chemical reaction and hardens.I feel the inherent power of pottery in this process.Especially when exposed to direct flame. That strength and holiness. I wanted to express that as a piece of work. It was my first time to use the technique of burning my own work in the open, but I was able to witness its strength and really enjoyed it."

– Approximately 230 items on display and for sale, including Buddhist utensils such as incense burners and candlesticks, and calligraphy.

Mr. Asai placed great importance on the “face-to-face posture'' when creating vessels to hold prayers. The title of the exhibition, “A glimpse of the universe where God dwells,'' was chosen in the hope that the vessels he made would also become places where God dwells. Approximately 230 items are on display, including Asai's signature bright red Buddhist altar utensils.

Ryusuke Asai (ceramist, calligrapher, writer, musician)

Born in Nagoya in 1966. The following year, he moved to Tokyo. Studied modern craft history at Waseda University, and mastered ceramic theory and technique at Goldsmiths College, University of London. After returning to Japan, he became acquainted with ceramic artist Ryoji Koie and interior designer Shigeru Uchida.
His unique style and form, which combines classical and modernism, have attracted attention, and his tea pottery has received particularly high praise. In recent years, he has also been active as a calligrapher, attracting attention primarily for his literary and imaginative works. He has held many exhibitions at galleries across the country, including Ginza Ichihodo and Shinjuku Kakiden Gallery. He continues to release innovative works. On the other hand, he is a multi-artist who is active in a wide range of fields, including writing columns and translations, as well as a music producer, composer, and musician. His grandfather is the potter Sueta Yano, and his father is the photographer Shinpei Asai.

・Official YouTube channel opened interview video being updated

This time, we have opened a new Zushiya official YouTube channel. We have released an interview video with Mr. Asai about the behind-the-scenes aspects of production.

Zushiya Official YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@zushiya_altemeister