Ceramics Inspired by the Diverging Traditions of Japan and the UK

The work of Japanese ceramicist Hitomi Hosono is delicately inspired by both her homeland and the United Kingdom where she now lives and works.

A far cry from the minimalism for which Japan is frequently associated beyond its borders, Hosono’s ceramics are crammed with detail. Her creations are inspired by botany and depict leaves, branches and flowers, painstakingly reproduced by the artist across vases, plates and simple boxes. She favours neutral colours like off-white or black, preferring to add complexity through texture and embossing. From time to time, certain colour nuances appear, but they remain soft: baby blue, yellow gold or coral orange, highlighting the sculptural work of the ceramicist.

Hosono was transmitted a passion for ceramics by her artisan grandfather. After studying pottery in Japan, she perfected her technique in Denmark before joining the ‘Ceramics & Glass’ programme at the Royal Collage of Art in London. Her creations call upon both the vegetation of her youth, such as cherry-tree blossom, as well as the tradition of English porcelain. She is often inspired by botanical illustrations such as Portmeirion’s ‘Botanic Garden’ and her preparatory sketches are made from nature beginning with her walks through gardens. Rather than copying leaves or flowers exactly, she prefers to observe these elements closely before leaving and working from memory.

During an internship at the prestigious potters Wedgwood, founded in 1795, the artist learnt the ancient technique of ‘sprigging’, a moulding technique which allows for a subtle embossing on ceramic objects. These objects, which can require days of work for just one single detail, are risky to transport, but this hasn’t stopped Hosono winning the inaugural Salon des Arts Perrier-Jouët prize and exhibiting in both Paris and New York.