The Depths of Neriage Technique: Yasuharu Matsui and Yasuhide Uchida—Quiet Innovation Carved into the Clay
In the world of pottery, the Neriage technique, which involves combining clays of different colors to create intricate patterns, is an extremely difficult field where artists from across all eras and regions have challenged the limits of possibility. Unlike "enameled painting" (Etsuke), where patterns are simply drawn on the surface, Neriage requires the very structure of the vessel to be composed of the patterns. As such, it is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, attainable only by those with a profound mastery of the properties of clay. In this article, we will delve into the depths of the technique, comparing the methods of artists like Yasuharu Matsui—a symbolic figure of modern Neriage—with the "Omote-Ura-Kanpei Kinren Jozu" (Front-to-Back Penetrating Brocade Marbling) of Yasuhide Uchida, a master to whom we are deeply devoted and whose originality we hold in the highest regard.
1. Weaving the Memories of Clay: The Eternal History of the Neriage Technique
Tracing the history of the Neriage technique takes us back to the "Jiaotai" technique popular during the Tang Dynasty in ancient China. This method of mixing clay to resemble wood grain spread throughout the world via the Silk Road. In Japan, it passed through the Mito region during the Edo period before evolving into the artistic Neriage of today. Throughout this long history, the one goal sought by countless artists has been to control the plasticity of clay to create perfectly intended and beautiful cross-sections.
2. A Universe of Layered Colors: The Authenticity of Modern Neriage and the Sculptural Beauty of Yasuharu Matsui
When discussing modern Neriage, one cannot overlook the methods represented by the Living National Treasure Yasunari Matsui and his successor, Yasuharu Matsui. Their technique begins with calculating the layering of multiple pieces of colored clay to create a large block of clay that reveals a specific pattern in its cross-section. This block is then thinly sliced and pressed into plaster molds to create vessels with geometric patterns and complex gradations.
In Yasuharu Matsui’s case, he further pursues a modern sculptural beauty by roughening the surface or intertwining multiple clays in complex ways to harmonize texture and color. The brilliance of their work lies in how the layers of clay, controlled through meticulous calculation, reveal a cosmic depth after undergoing the rigorous firing process. Since the pattern remains identical regardless of where the piece is cut—much like a "Kintaro-ame" candy—this technique has established itself as the mainstream of modern Neriage.
3. "Knitting" that Overturns Ceramic Common Sense: The Shock of Yasuhide Uchida’s Front-to-Back Penetration
However, when compared to these modern methods, the realm of "Omote-Ura-Kanpei Kinren Jozu" achieved by Yasuhide Uchida feels like the product of an obsession that transcends the common sense of pottery. The fundamental difference in Uchida’s technique compared to ordinary Neriage is that he does not simply layer blocks of clay; he literally "weaves" or "knits" the clay after shaping it into threads as thin as yarn. This method goes beyond simply making the cross-section uniform; the vessel itself is woven as a cohesive structure.
In typical Neriage, the clay inevitably stretches or distorts during the shaping of the block, making it nearly impossible to avoid slight misalignments between the patterns on the front and back, or the blurring of boundaries. In contrast, Uchida’s "Omote-Ura-Kanpei Kinren Jozu" features patterns that are identical on both the front and back with flawless precision. This process is closer to weaving cloth or braiding bamboo. Handling a highly plastic material like clay while maintaining the structural precision of a knitted fabric requires an extraordinary amount of labor and time.
4. Aged Clay that Stops Time: Clear Boundaries Created by Soil Resting for Decades
The extreme difficulty of Uchida’s technique also lies in the battle against the physical contradiction of making clays with different properties coexist. The clay used in Neriage is colored by mixing in colorants such as metal oxides, but the shrinkage rate and reaction to firing temperatures vary depending on the color. Even a slight difference in shrinkage would cause the vessel to fall apart or develop countless cracks during firing. To solve this, Uchida devoted his heart and soul to utilizing "aged clay."
Aged clay refers to soil that has been left to rest for years or even decades, allowing microorganisms to increase its viscosity and the particles to blend evenly. This process is strikingly similar to how fine whiskey esterifies over long years in a barrel, mellowing its harshness and evolving into a mellow flavor. By granting the clay a period of time longer than his own life, Uchida enabled intricately woven clays of different colors to shrink and harden simultaneously, as if they were a single living organism.
5. The Decade of Miracles: The Peak of Perfection in the 1980s
It can be said that this aged clay is the hidden protagonist supporting the refreshingly clear boundaries found in Uchida’s work. Furthermore, examining Uchida’s work chronologically reveals a clear process where his technique was refined over long years, reaching a peak toward the end of his life. Born in 1893, Uchida lived a long life of over 100 years, but his artistic perfection reached a golden age from his mid-80s to his 90s.
The works produced around the 1980s, in particular, reached a level of perfection rare in the history of human ceramics. Following the trial and error of his youth, his technique, experience, and the state of the clay he had aged came together perfectly during this period. The resulting interweaving of colors is extremely rich, yet each color shines independently without cloudiness. The fact that the boundaries of color are so distinct is evidence of his almost divine control over everything from the moisture content of the clay to the temperature during firing.
6. A Solitary Pursuit that Turned Its Back on Fame: Why He Was Not Named a Living National Treasure
<The image above shows the "Manufacture nationale de Sèvres" in France, where Uchida mastered and honed his color and porcelain techniques in the 1960s.>
The reason why Uchida never received public honors like "Living National Treasure" is thought to lie in his creative philosophy. Rather than seeking fame through large-scale exhibitions or prestigious public competitions, he devoted his life entirely to pushing the limits of his technique within his own kiln—in other words, to the creation of his works. His solitary stance, pursuing an ideal of front-to-back beauty without being influenced by the trends of the time, ultimately led to the establishment of a unique technique that no other contemporary artist can match.
The harmony between the brocade-like splendor and orderly structural beauty seen in his 1980s works is truly worthy of being called miraculous. Generally, the more complex the pattern, the more unstable the vessel’s form tends to become. However, Uchida’s works from this period, despite their extremely complex weave, maintain an extremely refined and tranquil presence. Here, the profound flavor of aged clay, meticulous design, and the steady handwork that shaped it are united. While Uchida attempted to add new decorations to this perfected beauty in his later years, we firmly believe that the ultimate masterpieces are the works of the 1980s, where the structure is the pattern and the pattern is the structure, reaching an extreme purity without unnecessary decoration.
7. With Amber Time: Dedicating the Fortress of Information to Enthusiasts Worldwide
There is a reason why we suggest enjoying Uchida’s vessels with the finest whiskey. For instance, when you pour a deep amber single malt into this vessel and add a drop of water, the whiskey's aroma blossoms, and the vessel's mesh pattern also allows light to pass through, vividly revealing its colors. The beauty of the clear boundaries resonates with the clarity of the spirit, creating a blissful moment where sight and taste blend together.
Because he was active so early, he may not have benefited much from modern digital analysis or media, but the more we view the works he left behind from a modern perspective, the more their extraordinary difficulty and artistic value become apparent. Uchida’s passion, which saw him turn his back on fame to simply weave clay, lives on today in the vivid patterns that permeate the front and back of his vessels.
If modern Neriage is a pursuit of the beauty of "mass," Yasuhide Uchida’s "Omote-Ura-Kanpei Kinren Jozu" is a pursuit of the microcosm created by interwoven "lines." This represents the passion of one man, woven into the clay over the course of 100 years. To possess a work from the 1980s—when the boundaries of color were at their freshest and technique reached its pinnacle—is more than just ownership; it is to become a witness to history. We believe that passing on the miracle achieved by this extraordinary artist is our mission to enthusiasts around the world who seek truly valuable works.
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