Shinya Tanoue

Shinya Tanoue was born in Kyoto in 1976. Shinya Tanoue’s work was born from his passion for ceramic technique and the desire to develop and maximize the characteristics of clay. The source of inspiration in his works is the concept of shell: one is shell that protects a life form inside such as egg shell or seashell formed with layers of secretion from inside. At the same time, he tries to express the soft shell that wraps us softly and the powerful shell that protects us. Much importance is also given to the concept of birth and creation, as the earthenware represents a protective shell, close to the concept of the womb. He often uses blue glaze because this reminds him of water that is a source of life, emphasizing the symbolic nature in Japanese culture. The artist won the prestigious MINO International Ceramics Competition’s Jury Award in 2017.