Glassblower Yamato Ishioka by Tanaka Yoshiori

Colours are expressed in different ways depending on the maker. I find it fascinating that artists and designers are usually very divided when it comes to colour and how they should be used. Often an artist designer relationship goes hand in hand, since the artist has great imagination when it comes to colour and the designer knows how to manifest a form in to a real world setting. An obvious example is Charles and Ray Eames, Charles with his architectural and industrial background and Ray with her artistic training. This combination led to the production of timeless objects and furniture that used colour in a very appealing way.

It’s easy for me to stand on side with the designer, but I’ve been trying really hard to improve my skill with colour and use it in a subtle but unique way. As inspiration any maker who’s using colour to a greater degree has instantly captivated me, one of those being glassblower Yamato Ishioka who was photographed by Vancouver based photographer Tanaka Yoshiori. As you know these small snippets of craftsmen working behind closed doors open up a whole new interest in the often secretive world of craft. Especially glassblowing, which, in my opinion, is rarer than most other art forms and requires a lot of hours cooped up making and experimenting in a workshop.

I particularly like how Tanaka has captured Yamato in this short series. It’s a fantastic contrast seeing the top two with so much colour, and then rest of the series following in black and white. To finish a solitary photo of Yamato standing in the woods outside his wood-stove-smoked studio in Yasaka village, Nagano Prefecture. There isn’t much more you can say with words.

tanakayoshinori.com

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