Martin is very humbled that, as an example of the confluence of the craft traditions of Japan and Britain; his work is to be the focus of an incredible ceramics exhibtion at the home of John Ruskin, Common Cause.
Martin’s work will be displayed around John Ruskin’s house, Brantwood to encourage consideration of the part Ruskin played in communicating and influencing the two craft traditions and the importance of ceramics in them both.
Common Cause, will be opened on the 15th of May by Tomoo Hamada, and will feature work by his grandfather Shoji Hamada. There will also be work by Shoji Hamada’s great friend Bernard Leach and Ogata Kenzan, who inspired them both. These pieces will be on loan from the V&A. The exhibition will run until 5th of August 2019.
A real highlight of Common Cause will be a full display of the beautiful dining set, created for Brantwood by Edward Hughes in 2000.
Inspired by the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; that the true artist is the person who observes a creation, Martin is collaborating with other artists for this exhibition. The intention of this is to encourage deeper and more nuanced engagement between observer and the work on display. Geoff Cox is creating poems inspired by pieces in the exhibition and the process of their creation. Jane Exley and Steve Roche are creating a British craft response to the presentation of Teabowls and Photographer Euan Adamason is capturing unique images.
