The pottery skills and tacit knowledge of a maser: An analysis using eye-tracking data

An important aspect of Japanese traditional culture is the design and creation of pots, bowls, and other pottery, an artform that has historically been subject to cultural influences from China and the Korean peninsula. It has been suggested that passing down of hand-crafting techniques to the next generation is quite difficult, as the techniques involve considerable tacit knowledge. Thus, this study aimed to explore the creative processes of a master of the craft using an eye-tracking system. We recorded the eye movements of Hakuga Nakamori, a third-generation artisan, as he created a bowl and a pot. The results showed that, in the process of working toward creating a piece of art, Mr. Nakamori first focused his attention on the whole piece, and then on certain elements thereof.