Yuki Nara is a descendant of the Ohi-yaki house of ceramics. So to say that there was some pressure to become a potter, would be an understatement. “In elementary school I didn’t even want to touch clay,” says 29-year old Nara, discussing his rebellious childhood.
Nara chose to study architecture in school and, ironically, it wasn’t until his college years when he began to take an interest in the pottery that his father and grandfather had dedicated their lives to.
The architectural influences are apparent in Nara’s work. In fact, he uses a 3D CAD (computer-aided design) system to render his pieces, which are then sculpted, assembled and fired using traditional methods. He calls his body of ceramic work “bone flower” after his grandfather saw it and remarked, “looks like bone flowers.”
“Architecture continues to evolve while Ohi-yaki has remained constant since the Edo period,” explains Nara. “I think my ‘answer’ lies somewhere in between.”[…]
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