Toshi Takeuchi

Ceramicist

The harmony of shape

Toshi settled in Switzerland in the 1970s
He won an international ceramics competition in Carouge in 2007
In each of his pieces, he strives for perfect harmony

Toshi Takeuchi was born in Kôbe, Japan. After graduating in architecture from Nagoya University, he moved to Switzerland, where he began to learn ceramics on a self-taught basis. He completed several training courses, both in a traditional ceramics workshop in Tachikui (Japan) and with the ceramicist Jean-Claude de Crousaz in Geneva, Switzerland. This blend of Japan and Switzerland, sensuality and rigour, freedom and structure is revealed in his pieces. In his own opinion, Toshi's architectural background has left its imprint on the way he approaches his work today. When he creates, Toshi starts with a structured idea but allows himself a little freedom. His different series all stand out from one another, but his style evolves with a clear line: a contemporary touch in a traditional craft.

Interview

Can you identify any synergies between Switzerland and Japan that influence your work?: There is a Japanese sensibility ingrained in me; the way I shape my work, conceptualise, or the rhythm of my work. It is a bit like in a traditional Japanese garden – one stone after another. This Japanese ikigai blended with the slightly rigid sense of life here in Switzerland creates the synergy.
Do you remember when you first had the idea of going into this profession?: When I was studying architecture at university, I became interested in other areas like craft and design. My first experience was when I took part in a pottery course as a hobby. I was influenced by the great tradition of ceramics in my home country.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Any natural or manufactured object. Photographs, images of shapes and memory phenomena can also be a source of inspiration. Awareness is important. It is important to keep your antennae up and your sense of observation sharp.
How do you know when your piece is finished?: It is hard to know. You always think you can go on, but to know the right moment to stop, you have to feel what is important and what can be ignored. That comes with experience. It is the same when decorating a piece. In the beginning you often add too much and you learn when to cut back.

Toshi Takeuchi is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1980