Artist Cafe Fukuoka

Since I came all the way to Fukuoka, I decided to see something unique to this area and visited Artist Cafe Fukuoka. This was my first time seeing the works of Ryuta Fukumura, although I had heard of his name before. He hails from Ukiha City in Fukuoka Prefecture. His exhibited works featured silver glaze, which uses recycled silver extracted from circuit boards during urban mining and electronics recycling. I was intrigued by the idea of silver, essentially reclaimed from what could be considered waste, being transformed into art. The silver glaze was stunning, with bubbles and multiple layers creating a beautiful finish. Kansai Noguchi, on the other hand, is from Shikanoshima in Fukuoka City. He has a unique background, transitioning from being a musician to a self-taught ceramic artist. Noguchi uses discarded pearls—those deemed unsuitable for jewelry due to shape or quality—as a substitute for lime in his glazes. In Japan, the world's largest exporter of pearls, approximately 60% of pearls are discarded. His modern works incorporate the perspective of SDGs into Japan's traditional culture. The ultimate white derived from pearls created impactful pieces. Through this exhibition, I learned about Fukuoka artists who create captivating works by embracing new materials with a focus on caring for the Earth, society, and the environment. Re-Opening Exhibition April 24, 2025 – May 25, 2025 Artist Cafe Fukuoka is a facility operated by Fukuoka City, serving as a hub for artist growth and exchange. It repurposes an old middle school building.