Bizen Syuhai

This is a brand new Bizen sake cup, fresh from the kiln by Yoshinobu Morimoto, an artist with an exceptional aesthetic sense who continues to evolve in his mastery of clay, firing, and craftsmanship. This Bizen-style piece, which Morimoto describes as "kaburimono" (layered/coated), features layers of sesame glaze and sangiri, creating a profound, kiln-transformed finish. However, the true essence of this work lies not in the coating itself, but in the exquisite "nuke" (voids or unglazed gaps) that emerge during the firing process, creating stunning shadows within the hard, well-fired body. Rather than the soft-fired nuke often seen in contemporary Bizen, Morimoto pursues the firm, well-fired nuke that was truly present in ancient Bizen pottery. By applying a coating and nuke to a rich, chocolate-like clay body, he has perfected a three-dimensional and dense texture. The profound coating created through this process is a masterpiece in itself, while the damp-looking sangiri and the raised, pinchable yellow sesame glaze are equally magnificent. Instead of merely aiming for intense firing or, conversely, a soft clay texture, all elements are intricately intertwined to create an exquisite texture. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 8.0cm x 7.8cm x Height 5.6cm Yoshinobu Morimoto was born in Okayama Prefecture in 1976. He completed his studies at the Bizen Pottery Center in 1996. After working independently, he held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2004. Since then, he has held annual solo exhibitions primarily in Tokyo and across the country. He was selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art’s "Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition" in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2008, he exhibited at the "Contemporary Sake Cup Exhibition" at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi in Tokyo, and in 2009, he exhibited at the "Contemporary Tea Bowl Exhibition" at the same venue. In 2010, he held a special feature exhibition at Tenmaya in Okayama, among many other solo exhibitions held throughout the country.