GALLERY crossing is pleased to present “Deviation,” a solo exhibition by ceramic artist Koichi Onozawa, from Saturday, September 12 to Sunday, September 27. This marks Onozawa’s first exhibition with the gallery.
Born in Tokyo in 1983, Onozawa studied ceramics at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center in Gifu Prefecture. He is currently based in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, where he continues to develop his practice. Rather than prioritizing functionality, his sculptural forms place emphasis on the nature of the objects themselves. They are characterized by a balance between the supple tension created through the rotational movement of the potter’s wheel and the irregular distortions subsequently introduced by hand, after first confronting the form as it emerges from the wheel. The distinctive textures that accentuate these forms are created through the technique of Tōtai Shikki, in which lacquer is applied to fired, unglazed ceramics, building up layers of lacquer and mud in varied densities and tonalities.
Onozawa’s gaze is directed toward the long history of ceramics, from the Jōmon period onward, as well as the deep cultural histories of places such as Mino and Mashiko. At the same time, his focus lies on how these traditions can be expressed through forms that exist in the present. His practice embraces the weight of time and seeks to imbue his works with an essential presence through the layers of history and accumulated experience. In a sense, his approach is earthy and primitive: through the use of his own body, the movement of his hands, and a direct engagement with the material, he accumulates acts of making that can only be achieved through such physical encounters. It is this accumulation that gives his works their inner strength.
The title of the exhibition, “Deviation,” refers to a departure or divergence from an established norm. At the center of the exhibition are the subtly wavering forms of Onozawa’s signature series, Rotation/Deviation. The sense of unease that emerges from a slight departure from established forms or conventions is a key element in Onozawa’s work. Beginning with balanced, harmonious forms, he intentionally introduces subtle fluctuations that gradually shift the objects away from the conventional framework of the vessel, allowing them to emerge as autonomous objects.
We invite you to experience these works firsthand at the exhibition.