Hi there! I am Runi from Mie, Japan.
Let me ask a question to you now. When does your heart soar with happiness? Is it when your gaze look towards for future? Or Past? Perhaps, it is in this very moment, right here, right now!
And behold, as your eyes meet my creation, an exquisite masterpiece that emanates with passion and creativity, an overwhelming sense of joy engulfs my being.
Why, you may wonder? Because this is my art, meticulously crafted to ignite a spark within your souls. Your presence here, appreciating my work, fills me with indescribable elation. For that, I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you.
With profound appreciation, I thank you for being a part of this incredible life.
I hope that by creating this piece of artwork inspired by the conversations and numerous hopes I received from precious people surrounded myself during my own struggles, it can bring a sense of calmness and joy to those who view it.
Interview
01
Where are you from in Japan?
I was born in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture. I guess it is famous in Japan for Ise Jingu Shrine and Iga Ninja.
02
What was the motivation behind starting ceramics?
I was out of school for two years in high school due to mental problems, and when I was 18 my father asked me if I wanted to go back to school or get a job in hand, so I took an apprenticeship to train at a friend's place.
03
What do you like about your job?
At first I didn't do it because I liked it, I was desperate to do it because I had to make it work because I wasn't in school. It was only after I improved that I gradually came to like it. It was not so much that I liked ceramics, but rather that I started to enjoy it after I became able to do it.
04
Why did you become an artist? What inspired you to take that career path?
At first, I was trained as a tableware craftsman to make commissioned pieces and to make things to sell in stores. It was only recently that I began to think of myself as an artist. What made me decide to become an artist was the Corona Disaster, which wiped out all of my stores, places to sell, and events, and almost wiped out everything I had to sell. During that time, my body went crazy again and I became afraid to talk to people. Then I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. What it is, I think everyone gets nervous when talking to people, but I get so nervous that I lose my acidity and hyperventilate. That's when he felt the need to change something. After meeting Hiro at B-Bridge, he decided to become an artist instead of a craftsman because he wanted to do something new instead of doing the same thing he did before.
05
How did you find at your current form of art?
When I was stuck in the process of creating a work of art, I was thinking about whether I could create something with a hydrangea motif, since I originally loved hydrangeas. This work was created through conversations and opinions with people around me who were important to me, and the light they shed on my problems took the form of a lighting fixture. This encounter is my treasure, and I hope it will be the same for everyone who picks up this work.
06
How do you get inspiration for your arts?
Basically, since I make my own tools, I first think about the tools I will use when I make something. For example, when I go to a hundred-yen store, I think about what I can make with these tools. I do not just think, "I have something like this in my mind, so I will make it," but I start from a technical point of view, thinking about what I can make with this tool. It is an accumulation of these ideas.
07
What is your particular passion?
First of all, with dishes, it's lightness, ease of use, and ease of holding. After that, I am concerned about the resistance to staining. I believe that something that is difficult for the user to use is not good. As for objects and art, I have always wanted to create something that would not look out of place in a mountain or in nature. Therefore, I am very particular about the selection of soil, and I try to create works that bring out the best of the soil.
08
Please let us know your thoughts about your arts.
I hope that by creating this piece of artwork inspired by the conversations and numerous hopes I received from precious people surrounded myself during my own struggles, it can bring a sense of calmness and joy to those who view it.
09
Have you ever had any difficulties in your work?
I'm struggling now, haha. I remember in the beginning I was crying because I couldn't do it. Everyone around me had experience with ceramics, so I learned elsewhere and came to the teacher, or came after I went to college. I was the only student who stayed back and didn't know anything. And I wasn't interested in ceramics, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but that's why I worked hard. I had to catch up.
10
What does ceramics and art mean to you?
It is something I will do for the rest of my life, and I have no intention of quitting. I am always determined not to stop, so it is my life. Ha-ha-ha. But I'm not kidding, I'm not going to stop. I feel that no matter what happens. There are people who support me. I think it would be a betrayal to them if I quit. Even if I don't sell well, even if I am in an environment where I can't do pottery, I don't want to quit, I just want to pause. I will not work during that time, but I will definitely resume one day. I am determined to do it again someday.
11
What artistic vision do you aspire to manifest in the future?
I am aiming to have solo exhibitions in various places, all over the U.S., and all over the world. First of all, I would like to hold a solo exhibition, even if it is small. I am happy when people gather, so that is what I am aiming for. As an artist, I would like more people to see my work.