64. Yasutaka Baba  馬場康貴

Yasutaka Baba was born in 1991 in Hasami, Nagasaki Prefecture, to a family of potters, and he studied at the Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center. His work is in the tradition of his hometown of Hasami, which has been known for porcelain production since 1600. However, Yasutaka Baba does not dwell on this tradition, but continues to develop it with a new aesthetic along paths others have not yet taken. He makes porcelain sculptures constructed from thousands of small rectangular blocks of different sizes that he attaches, one by one, to the moist clay surface. His constructions are sometimes reminiscent of futuristic skyscrapers, and are sometimes more traditional in form but always with a surface that vibrates intensely through the play of light and shadow that is reflected in countless details. His work is intriguing because of the sculptural forms as a whole, as well as the intense beauty of the small building blocks that make up his works. It reflects the artistry as well as the craftsmanship with which Yasutaka Baba strives to capture the elemental essence of porcelain's natural beauty, and his works are mesmerizing odes to the sheer power and imagination of contemporary Japanese ceramics. He manages to breathe new life into the traditions of yesteryear and dares to push the boundaries of expression in innovative and new ways without denying Hasami's rich porcelain history. Despite his still young age, Yasutaka Baba has received much appreciation. His works have been presented at several prestigious art fairs such as Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, TEFAF Maastricht, and Art Miami. He also won the bronze prize at the International Ceramics Festival Mino, Gifu Prefecture, and received the Kumamoto Broadcasting Prize at the Arita International Ceramics Competition. His work is in the collection of the Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, Germany and Toshin Mino Ceramic Art Museum, Japan.