12/03/2026
We used to feel compelled that Masterclasses should always be technique-driven.
Should it always be the case? How about just understanding how some artists push certain approaches/ techniques that we are somewhat familiar with and seeing how they would approach it differently? It feels very much the case for Tetsuya Ishiyama, whose techniques and approaches span across such a diverse range of applications for both his functional and sculptural forms that it makes no sense for us to limit him. Across both days, Ishiyama-san shared how his practice has evolved over the years and how his repertoire of skills were explored and honed through his works, medium and of course through the many failures he took in stride. His proficiency and finesse were both evident in how decisively he churned his pieces out, so often based on his strong intuition of what needed done and how to go about it at each stage.
It was also very nice to see so many new faces this time round as well, beyond our usual alumni and regulars! We hope you felt the same way too. Our team definitely enjoyed Ishiyama-san’s presence around the studio, the close-up interactions working with him, over meal times, as well as over our regular wrap-up feast!
Thank you Ishiyama-san. 🙇‍♀️
