London

Mitsuru Mochizuki

Ceramicist | Nagoya, Japan

Nature echoed in clay droplets

Mitsuru constructs her ceramic works through layering tear-drop forms
She was the winner of the Homo Faber Award at the 6th Triennale of Kogei in Kanazawa
Working with clay is her time to come back to herself

Mitsuru Mochizuki describes creation as a journey of self-discovery. “One cannot create without knowing oneself,” she says. For her, making is a way to connect with her inner self and the world beyond. Mitsuru discovered ceramics at university, where she studied four materials: clay, glass, lacquer and metal. She was instinctively drawn to clay, as it requires no intermediary tools and allows her to communicate directly through her fingertips. "I enjoy how each object comes out completely different after firing. The process repelled and intrigued me at the same time, which led me to deepen my practice," she says. Early in her career, Mitsuru explored structures constructed entirely through decoration, applying overglaze or slip to moulds that are later removed. She continues this exploration through her current body of work, in which forms are constructed from accumulated droplets.

Interview

How do you design your organic shapes?: I do not plan the forms in my head, they emerge as I place each droplet upon another. Like patterns found in nature, wood grain or the crystallisation of water, my works take shape in response to their surroundings. They are formed by elements such as humidity and the pressure of what rests above.
When did the idea of your iconic droplets arrive?: Shortly after my graduation, I was surrounded by change and uncertainty about the future. I began constructing my work from triangular pyramids, which I found very therapeutic. Over time, the forms started growing sharper and more spiked. I do like the idea of stoicism and sharpening.
What do tradition and innovation mean to you?: In ceramics, an art with a long, storied history, one might say there is little room left for innovation. Every possible approach has been explored. Yet, I like to think that my practice is unique, as my expression reflects the time we live in and speaks in my voice. It is something that has never existed before.
What message do you have for aspiring ceramicists?: Take good care of yourself. Ceramics are born out of our hands, they are a direct reflection of who we are, physically and mentally. To continue this work, we must first take care of our own vessels.

Mitsuru Mochizuki is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011