Yoshikazu Tanaka
Seto city, Aichi prefecture, Japan
Yoshikazu Tanaka in his studio, Seto City, Japan.
Yoshikazu Tanaka, ReGC, 2019. Ceramic, 48 cm × 35 cm × 63 cm H
During the Coronavirus lockdown, I began to think about many things. How can art contribute to society? Why do I make and what for? When I’m making, it’s important that I communicate with the clay only for myself. But after I’ve made it, I hope my work affects many people, for example, turning an uneasy feeling into one of brightness and happiness. My work will change in the future because what I think affects the work.
I lost many exhibition opportunities due to COVID-19, but I still continue to make. And having plenty of time to think about my work is a big chance to improve it.
I usually make the work on the theme of recycling, using materials that are no longer needed. During the lockdown, ironically, the pause in human activities led to an improvement in the natural environment. The era of mass production and mass consumption has already come to an end, and now we are in an era of ecology and sustainability. The art world is no exception.
Yoshikazu Tanaka, Possibility of Clay, 2013. Ceramic, 33 cm × 33 cm × 63 cm H
Yoshikazu Tanaka, solo exhibition of ceramics at Enne_Nitouren Gallery, Nagoya, Japan. 2019.
During the Lockdown, Yoshikazu Tanaka thought about how art can contribute to Society and made new work that he hopes will lift people’s spirits
Yoshikazu Tanaka, Senan (blue) and Re (yellow), both 2020, featured in a permanent outdoor exhibition for patients and healthcare workers at Tosei General Hospital, Japan.
Yoshikazu Tanaka, work in progress, 2020. Ceramic
Yoshikazu Tanaka, for interior, 2020. Ceramic, wood. 30 cm H × 40 cm W × 3.5 cm D
Yoshikazu Tanaka, Mai, 2020. Ceramic, 13 cm x 13 cm x 13 cm
Yoshikazu Tanaka, for interior, 2020. Ceramic, wood. 40 cm H × 30 cm W × 3.5 cm D