Japanese artist Tomo Hirai bridges Magewappa and Faenza ceramics in Rome

The Japanese Cultural Institute in Rome hosts 'Magewappa di Ōdate – L’Estetica della tradizione giapponese', an exhibition featuring works by master Tomo Hirai (born 1947, Amagasaki) alongside traditional Magewappa crafts. Hirai, who moved to Italy in the 1970s after encountering Italian ceramics at a 1970 Kyoto museum show, has spent decades fusing Faenza maiolica with Japanese techniques. The exhibition showcases his recent collaboration with artisans Tomoko Ito, Eri Nakazawa, Yoshimasa Shibata, Shunji Kurimori, and Toshimi Narita, combining the warmth of maiolica with the straight grain of Akita cedar (Sugi) from Ōdate, Akita Prefecture. Hirai's works feature combed lines (kushime) on maiolica to echo the wood's natural patterns. The project began three years ago when Hirai coordinated a promotion of Japanese crafts at Fuori Salone 2024 in Milan, leading to a traveling exhibition focused solely on Magewappa. The artist emphasizes the sensory fusion of tactile and olfactory qualities, aiming to evoke 'emotion' and 'empathy'.