"Most people, when they see a beautiful object say, “that’s lovely” or “I want that”. Very few say, “I want to learn how to make that”, and even fewer say, “I know how to do that”. Ogata Kamio is that rare individual who not only saw something wonderful in ancient Chinese neriage pottery, but also had the desire and willpower to learn the technique for himself, despite no formal training. In Waves of Optical Illusion: Ogata Kamio, he takes thin layers of colored clay, laminates them, then uses a potter’s wheel to throw the clay into bowls or vessels. After creating the form, the clay is cut across the grain to give the piece texture and show various colors under the top layer. The result is striking, with the eye following the complex pattern of the surface and the color as it also revels in the symmetry of the overall shape."
