Akiko Yanagawa’s ceramics are first hand-formed using the te-nerime (hand-building) technique. After the pieces are fully dried, they are briefly submerged in water.
This immersion creates a weathered cross-section as if eroded by time. As the clay partially dissolves and re-adheres to the body, it produces a raw, gritty, and uneven texture. Her work exists at the intersection of two contrasting forces: the intentionality of human touch and the spontaneity of natural phenomena.
〈Biography: Akiko Yanagawa〉
1987: Born in Tokyo.
2011: Graduated from Meiji University, Department of Psychology and Sociology.
2017: Completed the program at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center.
After practicing her craft in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, she moved her studio to Kamakura, where she is currently based.
