Tomoya Sakai

Ceramicist

The power of tactility in primal creation

Tomoya is fascinated by the spinning motion of the potter's wheel
He explores memories, personal or universal, through his abstract pieces
He uses artificial intelligence to decide on the names of his artworks

Tomoya Sakai explains that he was a sensitive child, sensing the world of the unseen, which he now explores through clay on the potter's wheel. His career began in a car parts factory, where he was drawn to the motion of spinning metal. However, the sudden loss of close friends led him to reconsider his path. In 2012 he entered an art university to study ceramics, and further refined his skills at the Ceramic Research Institute in Tajimi, home to ancient kilns and modern ceramics. Starting with traditional pottery, Tomoya soon ventured into new artistic expressions of a wider range, in size and shape. "The tactile process allows me to materialise my inner world," he explains. "On the wheel, form emerges from subconscious contemplation. Concepts are added later," states Tomoya.

Interview

How did you discover your life's work?: I loved painting and spinning metal in my family's workshop as a child. Clay on a wheel is where I found all the missing pieces. Shaping clay on a wheel is a deep sensory experience, and a satisfaction that I never found in woodturning or glassblowing.
How would you describe your pieces?: For me, shape is born before concept. I like to challenge preconceived notions with my work, such as 'Do two holes side by side necessarily represent eyes?' It may sound paradoxical, but avoiding fixed ideas enables the work to reach a wider audience. This pure form of creation is what I like to pursue.
Do you incorporate digital element in your work?: Each of my creations is crafted entirely by hand. Digital tools play little to no role in my process. The only exception is in naming. For some series, I let AI generate names after feeding it information about my work, requesting to avoid literal interpretations of it.
What is your ambition in your practice?: I would love to scale up my work to create something that people can walk under. Ceramic naturally has limitations as the kiln defines the maximum size of the work. I am happy to prototype in clay and realise the final form in any material, pushing the limits in ceramic expression.

Tomoya Sakai is a rising star: he began his career in 2018