Shoji Hamada was a Japanese potter who largely influenced the Mingei folk-art movement in the twentieth-century.
What I really like about Hamada’s work is how clean and natural it feels. Although some of his work is rather angular I feels like it came from there earth. His shapes and glazes show some of the purest forms. They are clean and organic feeling, they have their impurities and seem to reflect the real world rather than an idealization of an object.
His pieces are functional which also contributes to the beautiful simplicity of his work. The craftsmanship is evident; you can see slight imperfections and an understanding and appreciation of them in relation to the form. They appear to be on the smaller end of scale, which add to their functionality.
Since Hamada was inspired by any medieval eastern cultures you can see these ideals portrayed within his style. He does not use lavish glazes, even the designs he has on his work are more subdued. I really appreciate how masterfully he applies his brush strokes.
