Ceramicist, kiln designer, painter and astronomer Masakazu Kusakabe, who passed away last year, was commemorated with a workshop. The Smokeless Anagama Kiln built by Kusakabe was fired at the workshop held at the 'Soul of Life Ceramics' Studio of the American University of Cyprus Arabahmet Campus.
PROF. T. EMRE FEYZOGLU
Masakazu Kusakabe is one of the leading and world-renowned names in Japanese ceramic art. Kusakabe, who was born in Miharu, Japan, in 1946, has participated in many national and international events since 1997, and has built his own smokeless Anagama kilns and participated in workshops in countries such as Japan, China, the United States, Canada, England, Turkey, Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Spain, New Zealand, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Taiwan. Kusakabe has become the focus of attention of many ceramic centers and artists with this kiln model he developed. This model has also attracted great attention in terms of sustainable environmental management and has been an important factor in Kusakabe's recognition. He also entered the literature in the field of ceramics with the book titled "Japanese Wood-Fired Ceramics", which he wrote with Marc Lancet.
Masakazu Kusakabe, first came together with Turkish ceramic artists in 2007 in Mashiko, Japan, for Tulin Ozyurt's Master's research study, and carried out the construction of the kiln called Sasukenei together with this artist. In 2014, he came to Ankara to implement the project planned by Hacettepe University Faculty of Fine Arts Ceramics Department Lecturer Associate Professor (Prof.) T. Emre Feyzoglu and participated in the kiln construction and firing activities that lasted 20 days.
With the contributions of the American University of Cyprus and Girne American University in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, ceramic artists Sinem Ertaner and Toya Akpinar had the opportunity to work and observe Kusakabe in Japan as his guests. Masakazu Kusakabe, who was later invited by Sinem Ertaner and Toya Akpinar, built a Smokeless Firing Kiln named "Miharu" at the 'Soul of Life Ceramics' Studio in Nicosia in 2017.
Masakazu Kusakabe, who passed away on February 2, 2023, was a very valuable artist and scientist who gained the interest and love of artists and art lovers from many different countries, as well as Turkish artists. In order to commemorate Masakazu Kusakabe, a value engraved in memories with all his qualities, and to keep his memory alive, a workshop will be held between 11-19 November 2023, at the Soul of Life Ceramics Studio of the American University of Cyprus Arabahmet Campus, with the firing of the Smokeless Anagama Kiln, which was built under his leadership in 2015. Prof. T. Emre Feyzoglu from Hacettepe University Faculty of Fine Arts Department of Ceramics, TRT Radio Department Graphic Designer Serap Feyzoglu, ceramic artist Tulin Ozyurt and world-renowned photographer Ahmet Ozyurt, who documented the process, Cyprus American University Lecturer and ceramic artists Sinem Ertaner and Toya Akpinar, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University Lecturer Dilek Kuyrukcu, valuable participants from the Turkish Cypriot ceramic community, Ozge Yucesoy, Mandana Mehrnia, Senol Ozdevrim, Mehmet Aytekin, Ferah Racioglu, Rauf Ersenel, Muhammed Said Alpsoy, Sevcan Cerkes and Mehmedemin Yildizcoban participated in this workshop.
