Come to “Atelier hitotema” where you can meet the charm of nature!

Hello, I'm Rika Ito, a printmaker.

This time, I would like to introduce "Atelier hitotema" based in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture.

Atelier hitotema

"Atelier hitoteme" is a couple unit of photographer Shoki Tanaka and pottery artist Kumiko Akiho. They started working in the spring of 2017.

They decided to set up an atelier in Inabe about four years ago, when they were looking for a atelier in various places with the criteria of being in a place with a lot of nature. They were drawn to the people they met, the close proximity to the mountains, and the attractive scenery.

Scenery from the atelier where the mountains are very close.

After that, they went to Inabe every time they had a day off, and got to know people with various skills, such as hunters, metal artists, and farmers.

When they were thinking about moving to Inabe, they learned about the "Inabe City Regional Development Cooperation Corps," and the husband, Tanaka, applied for the job and started working there for a fixed term of three years.

They have set up an atelier, held events to interact with the local community, created a free newspaper, and have placed importance on fitting in with the local community through making things.

A free paper filled with the activities ofHitotema and the charm of the area where they started living, along with the four seasons.

Each one is stitched with a sewing machine.

This sense of being intentionally misaligned and bound is nice!

Appearance of the atelier

They were able to rent a place that hadn't been used for 20 years, and the two of them worked on it little by little. It used to be a sewing workshop, so the design sewn together with a sewing machine is perfect for the free paper.

They feel that they has found a good community, with elementary school students peeking in on them after school, and people in the community looking out for them and helping them if they need anything.

While I was listening to the story, their neighbor's old lady came to see the exhibition with a gift.

The couple of Atelier Hitotema

Ms. Akiho, who is a ceramic artist and has studied textiles, and Mr. Tanaka, a photographer, are also doing dyeing as an activity. It all started with Mr. Tanaka, who handles photography in his production, through trial and error in the method of directly copying plants.

Tenugui made by Katachizome

It is made by sandwiching a plant between cloths, carefully tapping it with a hammer, and fixing it with a mordant solution. The resulting technique was named "Katachizome".

This is a hand towel that was made before.

In the previous dyeing method, plants (mainly flowers) were sandwiched and fixed to the cloth by itajime.

Compared to the current dyeing method, the plants are vaguely dyed, suggesting that they have evolved.

The pigments from the plants are fixed to the cloth, and the colors of the same plants change with the seasons. One of the charms of this project is that the materials, "plants," are readily available and can be produced without size restrictions. Like comparing plants that grow in different places, it provides endless enjoyment.

Pine 2020 266×299cm

In the future, he would like to capture the local character of the area through residencies and other means, and develop them into artworks.

Currently producing works on a remote island in Aichi. Please stay tuned.

"Sunday's Pancake" Kumiko Akiho Exhibition

Exhibition DM

At Atelier Hitotema, Kumiko Akiho's exhibition "Sunday Pancakes" will be held from March 12th (Friday) to March 21st (Sunday).

2021.3.12(Fri)-3.21(Sun)
11:00-16:00 *during exhibition period

There is a signboard in the back of the atelier.

A cute cat welcomes you.

After passing through a narrow path, you will reach the gallery space.

This space was not designed for people to pass through, but it was maintained and made passable for this exhibition.

This is where I entered the entrance.

The interior is neatly arranged, and it is a space like a small museum.

A lot of plates are lined up.

Inspired by the memories of pancakes she had with her family for Sunday morning breakfast when she was a child, she made the work like she drew a face with the batter and flipped it over, enjoying the difference in the color of the clay.

In addition to plates, there are wall hangings, vases, and other delicious-looking ceramics.

She encountered pottery through her work, and in recent years she has been producing mainly pottery and illustrations.

Surprisingly, this is the first solo exhibition.

About a year ago, she was given the opportunity to exhibit for the first time as Hitotema at a gallery called "Naufu Gendai" in Gifu, and it was a great chance to present ceramics as works of art.

”Dip flower” series: a work that combines imaginary flowers carved from soil and dipped in glaze with old glass bottles / 2020 Gifu City Naufu Gendai

Dishes with the image of pancakes

She said it was difficult to imagine, create, and exhibit the entire project, so she asked her husband, Tanaka, for advice and ideas, and he helped her finish creating the space.

The wall and the organically shaped display stand were also produced for this exhibition.

Objects and flower vases line up.

The display is nice too.

Created a poster for the exhibition.

A lot of works are lined up.

In the lucky lottery, a small bag contains a ceramic object and small sweets. Look forward to seeing what you win!

Objects, ceramics, and drawings comfortably lined up in the space. Each of them is so beautiful that you can't help but linger over them. I look forward to seeing more of their activities as Atelier Hitotema, as well as those of Mr. Tanaka and Ms. Akiho.

I was curious and decided to bring this "key flower" home.

Please come and find your favorite! And feel the nature and polite life.