I visited Yoshinobu Morimoto's solo exhibition currently being held at Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan.
The exhibition is running from Wednesday, May 7th to Tuesday, May 13th, under the theme "A Harmony of Sake Vessels and Tableware."
This time, a large number of tableware items are on display for the first time in a while, with a rich selection of square plates and leaf-shaped plates featuring beautiful clay textures and "goma" (sesame) ash glazes.
The coordination with sake vessels was also expertly arranged, blending the earth tones of Bizen ware and "hidasuki" (fire-cord) patterns to showcase the breadth of variety possible within Bizen pottery alone.
I was particularly struck by the "reduced fire-cord" (kangen hidasuki) works; the gentle fire-cord markings against a clay surface that looked as though it were weathered were magnificent, capturing a unique texture that truly evokes the spirit of antique Bizen ware.
It is said that even ordinary fire-cord pottery will acquire the character of antique Bizen if used for 100 years, and these reduced fire-cord pieces are the result of extensive research into how that aesthetic could be recreated.
The moment I held one in my hands, I felt that even in pottery, there is a beauty in things that appear to be "in decay."
If you are in the area, please do take this opportunity to visit.
I visited Yoshinobu Morimoto's solo exhibition currently being held at Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan.
The exhibition is running from Wednesday, May 7th to Tuesday, May 13th, under the theme "A Harmony of Sake Vessels and Tableware."
This time, a large number of tableware items are on display for the first time in a while, with a rich selection of square plates and leaf-shaped plates featuring beautiful clay textures and "goma" ash glazes.
The coordination with sake vessels was also expertly arranged, blending the earth tones of Bizen ware and "hidasuki" patterns to showcase the breadth of variety possible within Bizen pottery alone.
I was particularly struck by the "reduced fire-cord" (kangen hidasuki) works; the gentle fire-cord markings against a clay surface that looked as though it were weathered were magnificent, capturing a unique texture that truly evokes the spirit of antique Bizen ware.
It is said that even ordinary fire-cord pottery will acquire the character of antique Bizen if used for 100 years, and these reduced fire-cord pieces are the result of extensive research into how that aesthetic could be recreated.
The moment I held one in my hands, I felt that even in pottery, there is a beauty in things that appear to be "in decay."
If you are in the area, please do take this opportunity to visit.
