tetogu
“tetogu (hands and tools)” is an artist brand which works based on the expansion and merging of two genres – art and craft.
Focusing on materials produced from land and landscape created by culture, it involves and produces artworks from both viewpoints based on the representation of “earthenware” in which values of art and craft are accumulated.
Te (hand) is part of the body to touch and handle, and gu (tool) has a purpose to keep and means a subject to handle.
When we understand and shape the real nature of human activities which have continued for over 10,000 years and the real feeling of materials, we can imagine a landscape which would remain 10,000 years into the future.
As of 2025, based at Chuo-ku, Chiba, activities of tetogu include collection of materials in fieldworks in the suburbs, shooting landscapes and firing earthenware on the ground. By embodying texture and colors seen through living with nature as artworks, it aims to make opportunities to open up the forgotten feelings in modern society.
2022 Established mainly by Kei Sotoyama (pottery artist / preside over Chiba Pottery Workshop)
2023 tetogu STUDIO / GELLERY open