Mindful making in Japan
I went to Japan in April 2024 & 2025. While I was there, I had an opportunity to see some of the amazing pottery and techniques while staying in Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka.
It struck me that crafting in Japan is not just about making the object. It’s about being present in the moment and enjoying the process. Artists embrace mistakes and use it to their advantage. Everything is seen as a learning experience, with less focus on perfection. In fact, art that reflects a more natural, organic way of crafting is prized above perfection. It is seen as honest.
This “practice” is also included in the way Japanese potters design and centuries-old traditions. For example, Japanese tea cups don’t have handles. There are a few reasons for this. It is a physical reminder that if a cup is too hot to hold, the liquid inside would be too hot to drink and damage your body. It forces the person to be present in the moment and be mindful about what they are drinking, taking time to ensure they are drinking it slowly and at the right temperature. It’s a deliberate cultural practice to “slow” the person down, allowing time for thought and good decision-making.
In the last 2 years, I have tried to bring this mindful making into my ceramic practice and the act of deliberately creating mindful moments where I am forced to slow down and be present in the moment. Such a simple act has spawned a burst of creativity in ceramics, painting, photography and writing. It created space and time for me to make art. I don’t think I’ve been this productive in my entire life!
Some of the other pottery techniques I picked up while in Japan include Hakeme (originating in Korea), where thick white slip is brushed onto dark clay body. It’s rustic and really suits my way of making.
Lastly, I also saw hundreds of small bud vases while travelling around Japan. Perfectly formed with simple glaze or hand-drawn repeating patterns and often with high, narrow necks. When I returned to Sydney, I nearly exclusively made these for 6-months.
