Interview

Introduction to SAYA WORKSHOP

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Picaresque

On February 7, 2025

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1. About Saya Workshop

About Saya Workshop

Saya Workshop: @saya_pottery_artwork

In late November 2021, an artist collective named “Saya Workshop” was established, comprising both named and anonymous members.

Currently, Saya Workshop’s official Instagram account introduces their works in a narrative style. In the stories shared, there is also mention of an artisan family called “Saya Workshop.”

2. Story Outline

In a certain town, there exists an artisan family known as “Saya Workshop.” This family specializes in crafting ceremonial masks made from clay and pigments. With a deep appreciation for art, they create a variety of artworks and attract traveling performers from faraway places who visit the workshop. The story captures the interactions and tales between these mask artisans, the town’s residents, and the traveling performers.

The story captures the interactions and tales between these mask artisans, the town’s residents, and the traveling performers.

3. Team Members

Introducing the Real-Life Artists of Saya Workshop

Saya: @saya_pottery
Sculptor, Ceramicist, Doll & Mask Maker

Saya initially studied oil painting at Tama Art University, later transferring to the ceramics department, where she graduated. Although she once stepped away from ceramics, she eventually returned to retrain in the fundamentals, studying under four teachers with distinct styles. She also attended a four-year ceramics instructor training program and began preparations to open her own ceramics studio while continuing her artistic work. However, due to various circumstances, she halted her ceramics production and began creating dolls as an alternative art form, which she continues to do today.

Noriaki Kawana: @noriakikawana
Artist, Nihonga Painter, Planner, and Director

Drawn to the world of dolls and masks Saya created, Noriaki sought to help expand this imaginative realm. Together, they formed the artist collective “Saya Workshop.” He completed his doctoral studies in Nihonga (traditional Japanese painting) at the Tokyo University of the Arts and earned a PhD with his thesis and final project titled “Otherworld and Boundaries.” He has participated in numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally and holds a museum curator qualification.

Atelier Nicolas: @ateliernicolas_artwork
Designer

Responsible for designing elements beyond Saya’s artwork itself, Atelier Nicolas handles the creation of packaging, printed materials, venue setups, and visual presentations that contribute to the overall aesthetic of Saya’s world. She graduated from the Department of Japanese Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. In addition to designing concert pamphlets for the Tokyo Opera City, she has recently created logos for several popular pastry shops.