An artist's Australian treasures

LIVINGJSTYLEUNIQUELYJAPANESE

Ceramic artist Mitsuo Shoji always planned to go overseas after university. Originally hoping to teach in America, he changed his mind and in 1973, the day after graduating from Kyoto University of the Arts, he came to Australia. And he's glad he did.

"Back then, ceramics was the outcast in the Japanese art world, but here even Miss Australia listed ceramics as one of her interests and I remember being surprised," Shoji said.

"Basically, the ceramics boom that's happening in Japan right now was here 30 years ago. In that respect, choosing Australia was the right decision."

Shoji found teaching positions first at Melbourne's Monash University and from 1978 at the Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), now part of the University of Sydney. However, life as a professional artist can be hard and Shoji turned his attention overseas. Winning prizes at international ceramics competitions in Italy and New Zealand brought him increased recognition and overseas opportunities, and even now he travels to Asia and Europe every year. However, it is Australia that brought Shoji much happiness in the form of his family and friends.

"The greatest gift this country has given me is my wife Christine. She also migrated here, from England," he said.

"It is because Australia is a migrant country that we met and I am grateful for that. Second are our two lovable sons. And there are also our Australian and Japanese friends that we met over here. These are the best treasures that Australia has given us."

Shoji's appreciation extends beyond the people in his life, and he counts himself fortunate to be living and working in Australia.

"Of course, from my position as a ceramics artist I am grateful for the broad-mindedness of Australian society in accepting the arts.
"Furthermore, Australia has a splendid natural environment. And the population is low. Is this not the greatest luxury in the world today?"

In July 2007, Shoji retired from his 30-year post as a senior lecturer at the SCA. Although he remains at university in an honorary capacity, he now has more time to focus on his true love of being an artist.

"While I'll still go to university sometimes to supervise postgraduate students, from now on I would like to devote myself to my craft and create good works of art."