‘At fifteen years old, I realised that I wanted to use my hands to create something,’ says Nagoya-born, Paris-based artist Yoshimi Futamura. Ceramics seemed a natural choice, as from an early age, Futamura was fascinated by the Buddhist ceremonies her parents hosted for family and friends. ‘The day before, everybody started to prepare food and organise the house,’ she recalls. ‘As a child, it was a big event.’ Guests used ceramic and lacquer tableware, and often concluded these memorable events with a tea ceremony using beautiful bowls. Futamura has loved ceramics ever since, both for their appearance and their functionality.
From 1979 to 1981, Futamura trained at Japan’s Seto School of Ceramics, where she embraced historic techniques. Then, newly graduated and wanting to broaden her horizons, she applied to be…
