Kosho Ito (born 1932) is renowned in Japan as an experimental artist who uses clay to create large-scale organic installations, using firing techniques developed for the ceramic industry. Since 1970 he has been making installations using endless variations of curved and textured shapes, which often resemble primary life forms like cocoons and seeds, and take on a different aspect when placed in a particular location.
Ito has made two installations for St Ives:
- Earth Folds in the Courtyard
- Sea Folds in the Ceramics display case in Upper Gallery 2
Ito lives near the town of Mashiko, where a strong link has developed with St Ives through the friendship between the potters Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. Ito's experimental approach offers an important counterpoint to the traditions established by Leach and Hamada. Although his work is held in high regard by museums and public collections in Japan, this is the first time his work will be seen in Britain.
A publication accompanies this exhibition with an essay by Yoshiaki Inui, Susan Daniel-McElroy and Kazuko Todate, available from the gallery shop.