Takuro Kuwata on Ceramics, Bronze, and Never Discarding Work

Japanese ceramic artist Takuro Kuwata, based in Gifu's Mino region, discusses his practice in an interview with Whitewall. He works across ceramics and bronze, moving between handheld tea bowls and monumental forms. Kuwata questions repetition, scale, and whether an object without function can retain vitality. He rarely discards fired pieces, believing understanding changes over time. His work is informed by traditional Japanese ceramics, especially tea culture, but he seeks to translate historical investigative attitudes into contemporary terms. Kuwata negotiates control and unpredictability with materials, leaving room for unexpected outcomes. A permanent bronze installation of a tree-like form with peaches is located outside a concert hall in Okayama. He emphasizes that real tradition is a process where something new responds to each era's needs.