Bernard Leach was born in 1887 in Hong Kong and went to the Slade School of Art in London, where he studied under Henry Tonks. However, he didn’t discover pottery until he attended a raku tea part in Tokyo, where guests were asked to decorate already fired raku pieces. It was here that Leach discovered his passion. (Prior to this tea party, Leach had studied etching and considered himself an etching artist). It was in Japan that he encountered a group of young Japanese art enthusiasts, called Shirakaba. Through this group, he was able to broaden his artistic horizons and shortly after, Leach began his ceramics career under the direction of Shigekichi Urano.
Leach’s first claim to fame was a book he published in 1940 called “A Potter’s Book”. This book is still considered a must read for any aspiring potter. He was an avid instructor of ceramics, believing anyone could learn to throw on the wheel. While schooling in Japan, became friends with another young potter named Shoji Hamada whom with he set up Leach Pottery at St. Ives, Cornwall in 1920. At this studio, he produced the pottery for which he became famous. This work consisted mainly of modest, functional forms with clean slip designs. Often the subjects of his designs are simplified or abstracted animal forms. This minimalist theme in his work is most likely pulled from his ceramic training in Japan, as well as his British heritage. Leach often saw his art as a conveyor between these two desperately different cultures.
The hand-painting aesthetic of Leach's slip designs allow the viewer to follow the artist's hand. One is able to physically see where the weight of the brush was heavy, and where it was lifted off. Despite this handmade quality, the designs are very crisp and clean, adding a professional and finished quality to Leach's work. My personal favorite piece by Leach is his 'Slipware Plate' (made around 1950), which features a an abstracted rabbit form. The contrast between the swooping and flowing quality of the rabbit's feet and ears really contrast with the rigid and geometrical crosshatched decoration around the outer ring of the plate. Also, this piece is a perfect example of Leach bridging British and Japanese aspects into his work. The outer rim and signed name are very reminiscent of Thomas Toft's (a famous English potter) style, while the rabbit form is resemblant of Japanese design.
Unfortunately, due to loss of sight, Leach had to stop producing work in 1972. However, he continued to publish writings about ceramics, even after he’d lost his eyesight. In 1977, the Victoria and Albert museum in London hosted a exhibition of his retrospective work. Bernard Leach died in 1979.
Here's a funny story: There was a woman teaching pottery classes at some kind of correctional facility in England. Some of the inmates got quite good at throwing (lots of time on their hands), and she had them copy Leach pots. They got so good, that she started selling them as originals, making quite a bit of money on the auction/antique circuit. Someone caught on when they realized all of the decoration was only on one side-- since they were copying photos, they didn't think about the back side. Leach always decorated both sides of his pot. She was caught (and perhaps put in the correctional facility? Don't know that part of the story).
ReplyDeleteHis detail in slip decoration is amazing. Even though they are created with basic forms, they have such a archaic form to them, making his work look like it was made hundreds of years before he made them. There is such beauty in his simple forms.
ReplyDeleteThanks to write about his works.
ReplyDeleteHe had explored to revive slipwere during his stay in Abiko, Japan.
If you are intrested in, please come to Abiko city, from Tokyo station(JR) directly.