Ken Mihara 三原研

Born in 1958, Ken Mihara grew up in Izumo, in western Japan. It is in this majestic setting, imbued with the mysticism of the ancient Shinto tradition, that he developed a particular affinity with natural forms, and that he developed his sensitivity to idyllic environments.

Mihara does not use glaze in its production, nor does it use ash or gobe. Instead, he works using multiple high-intensity, long-lasting gas kiln firings, attempting to reveal the different nuances of the clay.

His series can take on extremely varied aspects; The Kei (Mindscapes) series is characterized by movement and energy, with double-walled interiors and spirals. Functionality is removed, as is symmetry, revealing a tension between interior and exterior space, as well as the essential qualities of the clay. The variation of shapes and firings, the interconnection between exterior and interior, the return of straight and curved lines, are all elements proving that Ken Mihara is working at the top of his art.

It has been exhibited and awarded at the All Japan Ceramic Exhibition (Nihon Togei Ten), the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, the National Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dento Kogei Ten) as well as the Tanabe Museum Chanoyu no Zokei Ten (Modern tea forms Sculpture Exhibition).

In 2008 he received the prestigious prize from the Japan Ceramic Society. It can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo.