Guerrino Tramonti, one of Italy's most noted 20th-century artists, was born in the northern Italian town of Faenza, which is famed for its glazed majolica earthenware. It was only natural, therefore, that he chose to work with ceramics, including terracotta and earthenware and stoneware. His sculptures often have a primitive aesthetic while his plates, vases and bowls are vibrant and typically decorated with figurative paintings.
In his long career, Tramonti took inspiration from a variety of influences — from the figurative sculptures and paintings of ancient Etruscan art to the subtle aesthetics of East Asia. His work, which often stuck to an uncomplicated palette of red, yellow and pale blue, maintained a distinctly contemporary Mediterranean feel, but was always evolving in design; till Nov. 13.
Crafts Gallery, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; (03) 3211-7781; 1-1 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda-ku; 8-min walk from Exit 1b of Takebashi Station, Tozai Line; 12-min walk from Exit 2 of Kudanshita Station, Hanzomon, Tozai, and Toei Shinjuku lines. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥800. Closed Mon. www.momat.go.jp.
