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The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: How do you come up with the forms (or surfaces) that are prevalent in your work?
Yuka Nishihisamatsu: I extract traces of life left behind through the vital activities of various living creatures, such as birds, insects, and fish, through drawing, and transform them into ceramics.
I translate colors and textures found in nature, such as the expressions of animals’ body surfaces, into glaze expressions.
CM: Do you maintain a sketchbook for idea generation or as a supplement to your clay work? If so, describe its use. If not, describe how you gather thoughts and ideas.
YN: I gain knowledge about the principles of nature and the formation of life through books. I then partially extract images from drawings in my sketchbook, based on objects I have actually collected, such as nests, or on photographs I have seen. These elements are combined and transformed into ceramics.
Follow her on Instagram @yuka.nishihisamatsu.
May 2026: Table of Contents
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