In Bizen, you often hear phrases like "the tsuchiaji (clay flavor) is alive" or "the tsuchiaji is dead." There are many Bizen works that allow us to feel a sense of vitality in the clay through the texture of their surface.
A focus on the clay, a focus on the firing, a focus on the form.
The goals of each artist vary, and they move us through a diverse range of approaches.
Even amidst all this, Bizen pottery possesses a boundless charm in its clay that cannot be found elsewhere, which is why encountering a piece with a vibrant tsuchiaji always brings such joy.
This is a mortar (suribachi) by Yoshinobu Morimoto.
It evokes a weathered texture reminiscent of tree bark that has aged over many years, yet the clay itself is brimming with life force.
It makes me happy to see how the clay has been brought to life by the artist’s hand.