Bizen Hidasuki Syuhai

This is a newly kiln-fired *hidasuki* sake cup by Yoshinobu Morimoto, an artist with an exceptional aesthetic sense who continues to evolve in his mastery of clay, firing, and technique. The reduced-atmosphere *hidasuki* (fire-cord) technique, which Morimoto himself refers to as *nukimono* ("extraction work"), truly lives up to its name, as if drawing a rich, vibrant *hidasuki* pattern directly out of the clay. Against a melt-in-your-mouth, chocolate-hued surface, a deep vermilion pattern blooms with such intensity that it appears as though the piece still holds the fire within. Despite the lack of elaborate carving or flashy design, the piece possesses a dynamic interplay of subtle movements, allowing one to fully appreciate the superb sculptural ability honed by Morimoto through his constant research into ancient ceramics and his relentless pursuit of creative output. According to Morimoto, the reduced *hidasuki* technique is profoundly deep, and the more it is used, the more the clay surface gains character and flavor. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included.
Diameter 5.5cm x 5.2cm x Height 5.7cm 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. In 2005, 2006, and 2007, his works were selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art "Tea Ceremony Forms" exhibition. In 2008, he exhibited at the "Contemporary Sake Cup Exhibition" at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi in Tokyo, and in 2009, he participated in the "Contemporary Tea Bowl Exhibition" at the same venue. He continues to hold solo exhibitions in various locations, including the "Yoshinobu Morimoto Feature" at Tenmaya, Okayama, in 2010.