About
Tea ceremonies
For generations western artists and craftspeople have been fascinated by Japanese art, particularly the ceramics used in Chado, Japanese Tea Ceremony. In recent years more and more craftspeople outside Japan have been producing objects they intend to be used in Chado. In some cases they have produced artworks that have been inspired by examples of utensils they have seen, or seen photos of, or even just heard about. However, the majority of these pieces are unusable in Chado, which requires that the utensils have specific characteristics to be functional and appropriate.
The association
The Contemporary Chadogu Association is a newly-formed, not-for-profit, special-interest Association dedicated to the sharing of knowledge – practical, creative, traditional and contemporary – specifically with regard to the creation, appreciation and use of Chadogu (utensils for Chado). This is achieved by bringing together those who make Chadogu and those who use Chadogu (Chajin, or Tea practitioners).
Nowhere else is such a variety of ceramics brought together for an enriching purpose as in Chado. Many potters, bewitched by these ceramic forms, travel to Japan to observe, study and explore. Although these journeys may be inspiring, and some may gain insight by meeting with other potters, few have the opportunity to develop more than a superficial understanding of the use of utensils through the experience of Chado. Even if they attend Tea Ceremonies, it is a rare occurrence indeed to spend focused time with a Tea Master and Tea practitioners to learn about the specific use of these ceramics.
Founders
Peter Sōrin Cavaciuti – Tea Master
Sensei Sōrin is a Japanese tea ceremony Master and a noted Chinese painter. Sōrin has been a professional East Asian painter and teacher for more than 35 years. He studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing. He has run workshops for the Japan Education Trust at many colleges around the country. His paintings have been exhibited several times at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Watercolour Society, and other settings. Solo shows have been at the Daiwa Foundation, London; The Museum of East Asian Art, Bath; Gallerie Leda Fletcher, Geneva; Soochow University, Taipei; Spacial & Timing Arts Co. Ltd, Taipei, among others. He received an award by the Urasenke Foundation for his contribution to Japanese culture in 2006, and was recently filmed and interviewed by China’s People Daily.
He has a significant East Asian art collection, which is known by the name Kōshosai, and he has graciously lent items from the collection to various galleries for exhibition, as well as allowing the pieces to be photographed for various publications.
Dr Bonnie Kemske – Ceramicist & Writer
Dr Bonnie Kemske was born into a US Air Force family while her father was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Later raised in the US but now living in the UK, she is a professional ceramic artist, writer, and former Editor of the leading international ceramics magazine Ceramic Review. She writes feature articles and reviews, as well as academic papers, for various publications. She is the author of two books for Bloomsbury Press: The Teabowl: East and West and Kintsugi: The Poetic Mend. Some of the research for the latter book was done in Japan with funding from the Daiwa Foundation and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
Bonnie has presented lectures in the UK, US and Australia on teabowls, kintsugi, contemporary ceramics, Japanese tea ceremony, and her own ceramic work and topics related to her PhD on touch and ceramics, which she undertook at the Royal College of Art, London, one of the foremost art colleges in the world. Her PhD included an attachment to Kyoto Geidai in Japan. She began her study of chado while living in Kyoto in 1980-81, and has continued her studies in London and Cambridge over the years.
Martin Miles-Moore – Professional potter
Martin is a professional potter and maker of chadogu with an impressive exhibition and client list. He creates his glazes from materials he finds both far and near, often from local quarries. Martin studied three-dimensional design, specializing in ceramics, at the University of Central Lancashire, graduating with Distinction in 1989. As a maker of contemporary teaware, Martin has been mentored by Tea Master Peter Sōrin Cavaciuti since early 2017.
Some of his recent exhibitions include: ‘The Teabowl: Past & Present’ (2017), Cube Gallery, Leach Pottery, St Ives, Cornwall; ‘International Chawan Exhibition’ (2018), Stratford Gallery, Stratford-Upon-Avon; ‘The Sake Vessel: Contemporary Interpretations’ (2019), Stratford Gallery, Stratford; ‘Common Cause’ (2019), Brantwood (home of John Ruskin), Cumbria, an official event of the Japanese Season of Culture in association with the Japan Centre, London (exhibition opened by Hamada Tomoo. Martin has published a book of pottery, poetry and photography, entitled Confluences (2019).
Siobhan Miles-Moore
Siobhanis a professional ceramic artist, who studied innovation and creativity for over twenty-five years, and now applies her learning to her practice as an artist. Her work is seen in Michelin-starred restaurants, and in public and private exhibitions across the UK. Her largest sculptural work was commissioned by The Ruskin Museum, Lake District. She holds a BBA(Hons), an MBA, and PGCert in Business Engagement.