Hirohisa Kondo

On a hillside in Mino, Hirohisa Kondo, a second-generation potter, makes his creations with the sound of a stream, birds chirping and the beauty of the bamboo groves surrounding him.  Using natural materials from the forest and around his studio, he kneads and produces his own clay and fuels his kilns with pine wood.  The natural environment being a source of inspiration; his philosophy is to work with the forces of nature and his kiln to complete his pieces.  
The Mentori vase is one such nature-inspired piece.  During the firing process, brown specks break through the white glaze at high heat.  As a result, the brown pigments meld seamlessly with his glaze, creating this masterpiece.  Kondo has even sought out the ultimate location within the kiln to create this one-of-a-kind exquisite piece. Kondo’s artistry is born from the fusion of Mino’s natural world and Kondo's unprecedented talents working in unison to create striking and distinctive pieces.