Kyoko Hayashi: In Anticipation of “The Paradise of Tableware”

We are pleased to announce an upcoming exhibition of new works by Kyoko Hayashi, an artist widely loved for her charming patterns and, above all, the wonderful usability of her creations. Prior to the opening day on October 2nd, we visited Mr. and Mrs. Hayashi at their studio in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

The studio is a beautifully renovated barn that was once used when the family worked in agriculture. The first floor serves as the workshop and kiln area, while the second floor is used as a display room and meeting space. Climbing up the steep stairs, you will find a room of about 70 square meters, filled to capacity with a vast collection of sample pieces she has created over the years.

The couple mentions that they have been operating their gas kiln in this location for over thirty years, producing well over five thousand pieces in that time. In one corner of the room, newly finished works created specifically for the upcoming exhibition are neatly organized and arranged by type. These are masterpieces chosen by me over two or three separate visits from an immense number of trial pieces, yet the collection still numbers around two hundred works.

Over the course of our relationship of more than thirty years, I am always deeply moved by one thing: during each selection process before her solo exhibitions, I am amazed at how she manages to create such an incredible volume of prototype pieces. Moreover, each piece is not merely novel or fresh, but has been thoughtfully crafted with its own distinct charm. Even considering other artists, it is rare to find someone who can produce such high quality alongside such an enormous number of trial pieces. I often wonder where this remarkable energy comes from.

Always finding this to be a wonderful mystery, I ask her about it from time to time: “How do you manage to come up with so many delightful patterns one after another?” Every time, she simply replies with a smile: “But painting new patterns is just so much fun for me. I have no interest in whatever patterns are currently in fashion; I just paint whatever I feel like. Before I know it, they are always finished.”

Then, how is that fresh, artistic sensibility constantly inspired? This remains another intriguing mystery. Kyoko says: “Anyway, I just enjoy every day. Whether I am working, doing housework, or enjoying our shared hobby of wild bird watching, I always find joy in it. I have a particular curiosity for things I have never experienced before. Whether it is traveling or trying new food, if the opportunity arises, I actively go for it. The excitement and anticipation at those times are wonderful, and that eventually becomes a source of great strength in my ceramic work.”

For this exhibition, she will present a wide variety of practical, user-friendly items that will bring life to your daily dining table, including rice bowls, teacups, free-use cups, small plates, square plates, and rectangular plates. The motifs decorating these pieces are ordinary things from everyday life—flowers, birds, fish, fruit, vegetables, and even Buddhist rosaries or houses. Guided by her playful and humorous artistic style, her smooth brushstrokes seem to come alive.

It is truly like a paradise of tableware. This is the world of Kyoko Hayashi, carefully prepared over a year and a half. We look forward to your visit.

▼ View Kyoko Hayashi’s collection here ▼