Makoto Komatsu

Makoto Komatsu is a product designer specializing in the domain of artisan design. He engages with ceramic, glass, stone, aluminum, and various other materials, focusing on the creation of objects utilized in everyday life. He has created a significant number of acclaimed works, which are housed in various collections at museums and universities nationwide.
During his high school years, Komatsu found inspiration in the vessels displayed within the Scandinavian design section of a department store, which motivated him to pursue a university education in ceramics within the Crafts and Design Department. During the 1950s, the Japanese design landscape was in its nascent stages, characterized by a significant surge of creative activity. Within the domain of products, crafts emerged, grounded in an innovative approach to creation that diverged from both folk art and traditional craftsmanship. This design is intended for daily application, enhancing our lives through the potential for repetitive production, while simultaneously engaging with materials and reappraising the allure of handcrafted artistry. In 1956, the Japan Designer and Craftsman Association, which was subsequently renamed the Japan Craft Design Association in 1976 and dissolved in 2021, was founded, leading to the establishment of craft sections within department stores.
Komatsu subsequently embarked on a career in craft design. Subsequent to his graduation from university, he pursued further studies under the tutelage of Stig Lindberg in Sweden. Upon his return to Japan, he established his own studio in 1973, where he produced a diverse array of works that showcased his remarkable individuality and artistic talent. Komatsu's name gained significant recognition through the "Crinkle series." These vessels were crafted utilizing creases as a motif, emphasizing the patterns present in the gypsum employed to create the molds for the pieces. The series achieved remarkable success upon its debut in a magazine and has remained a perennial product since its introduction in 1975. It was chosen for inclusion in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
At the age of 80, he remains actively engaged and, this year, unveiled two new products from Ceramic Japan, which is commemorating its 50th anniversary. There exist two varieties of earthenware vessels, specifically bottles and teacups, designated as "TORI" and "YAGI." He inherited the longstanding tradition of crafting animal-shaped receptacles and designed the spouts of the earthenware bottles with whimsical and endearing representations of bird and goat features, respectively. The other item is a white porcelain container designed for a solitary flower, characterized by its tubular form that appears to be twisted and bound together. The title of the work is "MUSUBU," which connotes favorable expressions such as "to establish a connection" and "to yield fruit." They were showcased at the Interior Lifestyle Tokyo 2023 international trade exhibition, which took place at Tokyo Big Sight in June of this year, where they distinguished themselves among the numerous works presented.
They are utilized and esteemed by numerous individuals both in Japan and internationally, possessing an undeniable allure. I had the opportunity to visit the artist's studio, where these works are meticulously crafted, and engaged in a discussion with him regarding his perspectives on Lindberg, the context surrounding the creation of his masterpieces, and his views on the practice of archiving.