Hello everyone, how are you doing?
I went to visit the "Oogama" (Great Kiln) Exhibition by Togaku Mori, which has been held since February 2nd.
I had been looking forward to it ever since Kazuhiro Mori-sensei notified me about the exhibition, and as expected—or rather, even better than I had imagined—the stunning works on display left me absolutely overwhelmed.
Okayama City Museum is located inside the NHK Building at the West Exit of Okayama Station.
This is the "Five-Koku Jar," which I was specially permitted to photograph.
Upon entering, this "Five-Koku Jar" is displayed directly in front of you, greeting visitors with its overwhelming presence.
Its actual capacity is nearly six koku, and it is so massive that you cannot even see the bottom of the jar.
The scale is so far beyond the norm that when standing right in front of it, you might even wonder if it's some sort of trick art.
The kiln transformation (yohen) captured in the work is also truly magnificent; the countless trickles of ash glaze and the intense splashes of "tobi-goma" ash created a landscape that is in no way inferior to the great jars of Old Bizen.
As I gazed at it, feeling as though I had traveled back in time to the era of Old Bizen, I was given the opportunity—despite his busy schedule—to have Togaku Mori-sensei himself explain the works to me, and I learned a great deal from the many wonderful stories he shared about the production of these great jars.
Whether it is the giant kiln packed with dreams or the extra-large jars that seem like the ultimate manifestation of imagination, looking closely revealed how much they rely on the wisdom and ingenuity of those who came before us.
In addition to these great jars, various works of different sizes are on display, some of which are not in glass cases and can be touched.
This is a fantastic exhibition that represents a turning point in the long history of Bizen ware, so I encourage you to gather your friends and visit the Togaku Mori Great Kiln Exhibition.