ceramic play collections by nendo for gen-emon porcelain kiln

nendo’s ceramic play collections for gen-emon
all images © akihiro yoshida

for his latest project, nendo collaborates with gen-emon, one of the most renowned traditional porcelain kilns in japan, maintaining a 260-year history. the series of porcelain tableware, ‘ume-play collection‘ and ‘karakusa-play collection’, re-interprets of one of the kiln’s classic motifs: small plum flowers known as ‘ume komon’ and foliage scrollwork known as ‘karakusa-e’. by manipulating the graphics and blowing up, layering, and abstracting the impressions, the visuals became contemporary variations of company’s long history. nendo evolves gen-emon’s signature high contrast blue and white hues, and delicate details as striking illustrations. the resulting collection of ceramics offer a rich assortment of multi-patterned pieces, but their overall visual continuity allows for a unified series of tableware.

the plates incorporate classic japanese foliage scrollwork known as ‘karakusa-e’

different sized plates, with patterned variations

a collection of mugs, with blue and white graphic patterns

small painted cases

a collection of spoons

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