【Performing Arts Materials Regular Delivery】Hana-yagi Shotaro's Extra Skills―Viewing Ceramics Art Exhibition Navi × National Theatre Collaboration Serial No.31
The article introduces a large ceramic bowl painted by Hana-yagi Shotaro, celebrating his grandchild's birth, part of the National Theatre's collection.Summary
The National Theatre, since its opening in 1966, has collected and utilized theatre‑related materials in addition to staging performances. Each month it publishes the “Performing Arts Materials Regular Delivery” column in collaboration with Art Exhibition Navi, highlighting a recommended item from its holdings. This 31st installment focuses on a large ceramic bowl (diameter 19.6 cm, height 8.6 cm) painted by Hana-yagi Shotaro, a female-role actor of the shinpai (New School) theatre movement. The bowl’s base was made by the sixteenth‑generation Kyoto ware master Eiraku Zen’goro; Shotaro applied the overglaze decoration, depicting pine, plum, and cranes on the exterior, the mark “Eiraku” on the base, and a gold‑painted “寿” (longevity) character inside, together with the inscription “初孫たんじょう 章太郎” and a turtle painting. These auspicious motifs indicate the piece was made to celebrate the birth of his grandchild. Shotaro, besides his acting career, devoted himself to painting, ceramics, glass painting, and calligraphy, leaving about 300 works that were donated to the National Theatre by his relatives in 1998. The use of overglaze painting allowed him to achieve vivid colours, reflecting his lifelong passion for beautiful hues nurtured by childhood exposure to nishiki‑e prints. The bowl is presented as a unique expression of his affection and aesthetic sensibility. A portion of the donated collection, including this bowl, is currently viewable in the Japan Search gallery, with further research and display planned.
(Source：美術展ナビ)