Notari

Notari, a ceramic artist based in Saitama, Japan. Inspired by animals and flowers, notari's work carries a soft and unpretentious character. The traces of hand-making are intentionally preserved, echoing the gentle vitality of the season.

Her practice combines washi-zome with hand painting. In this process, Japanese paper is cut into shapes - often animals - and placed onto bisque-fired surfaces. Pigment is then applied, allowing the image to transfer onto the clay. For more complex, multi-colored designs, this process is repeated layer by layer, like assembling a quiet visual puzzle.

The resulting imagery has a softly blurred, almost fuzzy edge, unique to the absorption of pigment through paper. Small animals-squirrels, bears, cats-appear with a sense of warmth and liveliness, enhanced by these gentle textures.

Notari often reflects on how to create animal forms that bring comfort and quiet joy, resulting in pieces that invite a subtle, heartfelt smile.