Kazuhisa Kusaba

Kazuhisa Kusaba works in Saga Prefecture, painting *Tosaiga* on ceramic tiles until pottery and picture share a firing. Japanese heritage, contemporary colour. The tile holds both.

*Tosaiga*, as Kusaba explains, is a form of painting on ceramic tiles, or *toban*, using pigments specifically designed for pottery. Each piece undergoes a meticulous process of painting and firing, repeated up to 15 times, to achieve its final form. This labor-intensive technique, born from Saga’s rich pottery tradition, particularly the 400-year-old Arita ware, reflects Kusaba’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of ceramic art.

Kusaba’s journey into art began in childhood, nurtured by his mother’s home-based painting classes. Though he never formally studied art, his early exposure to creative expression laid the foundation for his future work. After studying theater and scriptwriting at Nihon University’s College of Art in Tokyo, Kusaba returned to Saga, where he began experimenting with ceramic painting. His theatrical background influences his approach to art; he views each piece as a narrative, aiming to hold viewers as a film or play would.

Central to Kusaba’s philosophy is the belief that art is a form of self-expression, not a pursuit of technical perfection. Through nationwide workshops, he encourages others to embrace the joy of creation, free from the constraints of judgment. His own works, such as the acclaimed *Imagine Blue*, evoke profound emotional and sensory experiences, blending the depths of the ocean with the vastness of the cosmos.

Kusaba’s creative process is deeply introspective, often taking years from conception to completion. Drawing inspiration from history, mythology, and indigenous storytelling, he explores the interplay between oral traditions and written narratives, emphasizing the power of shared human experiences. For Kusaba, Japanese culture itself is a form of spirituality, woven into daily life through rituals and traditions that have endured for millennia.

Through *Tosaiga*, Kazuhisa Kusaba invites us to sit with the layers of history, culture, and feeling that shape a day. His work keeps faith with storytelling, and with what a tile can still hold.