We are pleased to present a solo exhibition by ceramic artist Rimpei Watanabe.

Based in Bizen, Okayama, where he maintains an anagama kiln, and working in Osaka, Watanabe’s practice is rooted in a deep engagement with material, process, and time. After spending two years in the UK during his teenage years, he returned to Japan with a heightened awareness of the singularity of Japanese culture. A formative encounter with an Ido tea bowl at a museum in Tokyo led him to pursue ceramics.

He subsequently trained at the Bizen Pottery Center and continued his practice while working independently. A pivotal influence came through his experience assisting in kiln firings under Anjin Abe, whose approach—characterized by high-temperature firing and a resistance to convention—left a lasting impact on Watanabe’s own methodology.

In contrast to the standardization of contemporary ceramic production, Watanabe gathers his own clay and fires his works in a wood-fired anagama kiln. His process embraces unpredictability, allowing ash, flame, and time to inscribe each surface. Recent works draw on forms and sensibilities found in anonymous antique objects, rearticulated through his ongoing dialogue with nature.

The exhibition will present a selection of vessels, including Chinese tea wares and flower vessels, marking his first solo exhibition in the Hokuriku region. The artist will be present on the opening day.

Alongside this presentation, we are pleased to feature a guest exhibition of original drawings by Isabelle Boinot. Responding to the forms of Watanabe’s ceramics, Boinot’s works introduce a quiet, observational counterpoint within the space.