TITLE:Â Fukami: Purity of Form
WRITTEN BY: Andrea Marks
PUBLISHER: Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture
PAGES: 172 Pages
RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2011
Born in Kyoto in 1947, Fukami Sueharu belongs to a generation of ceramic artists in postwar Japan who devoted themselves to the creation of sculptural ceramics, free from traditional forms. He is internationally known for his polished, razor-sharp, minimalist porcelain sculptures with elegant pale bluish glaze inspired by Chinese porcelains of the 10th to 14th centuries. He can be considered the most successful living Japanese artist working in any medium.
Fukami: Purity of Form presents a comprehensive account of Fukami’s artistic career, incorporating his entire oeuvre.
I have been fortunate to have met Fukami Sueharu and one book that I treasure (and was thrilled to have him sign) was a copy of “Fukami: Purity of Form†written by Andrea Marks (and also including essays from other associates who are well-versed in the work of Fukami).
For anyone who has never seen the work of Fukami, the one thing that will amaze you is how some of his sculptures are razor thin and are absolutely beautiful.
Fukami, world renown for “his polished, razor-sharp, minimalist porcelain sculptures which are then glazed in pale bluish, is inspired by Chinese qingbai porcelains of the ten to thirteenth centuriesâ€.
“Fukami†goes into the how Fukami became a sculptor, a conversation with Fukami and all essays are presented in English and in Japanese.
For the illustrated catalog, featuring beautiful, large photos of his sculptures. Also, it was great to see photos of Fukami working on a sculpture with captions outlining what he was doing in the appendix.
Overall, this hardcover book is an absolute treasure and if you love Fukami Sueharu’s work, “Fukami: Purity of Form†is worth owning.