Bizen Choku

This is a newly kiln-fired Bizen-yaki choko (sake cup) by Yoshinobu Morimoto, an artist with an exceptional aesthetic sense who continues to evolve in his handling of clay, firing techniques, and form. This Bizen-ware piece is what Morimoto himself describes as "kaburimono" (a "layered" or "covered" style), where layers of *goma* (ash glaze) and *sangiri* (reduction-fired grey/black areas) overlap to form a deep, kiln-transmuted "garment" on the surface. However, the true essence of this work lies not in that exterior, but in the exquisite "nuke" (clear, untouched areas) created during the firing process, which reveal magnificent shadows within the hard-fired surface. Moving beyond the "soft-fired nuke" often seen in contemporary Bizen, he has pursued the tightly vitrified, clear "nuke" characteristic of authentic old Bizen. By adding layers and these clear areas to a rich, chocolate-like clay body, he has completed a piece with a three-dimensional and dense texture. Combining the aesthetic sensibility and modeling techniques cultivated through his work in tea ceramics—such as tea bowls—with the deep knowledge gained from his study of tea ceremony and antique pottery, this choko radiates an extraordinary allure and intensity. This moderately sized cup is versatile and can be used for tea, as a small bowl, or as a shochu cup. No box included
Diameter 8.6cm x 8.6cm x Height 6.8cm Yoshinobu Morimoto was born in Okayama Prefecture in 1976. He completed the Bizen Ceramics Center program in 1996. After working as an independent artist, he held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2004. Since then, he has held annual solo exhibitions throughout Japan, primarily in Tokyo. His work was selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art’s "Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition" in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2008, he exhibited at the "Contemporary Artist Sake Cup Exhibition" at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo. In 2009, he exhibited at the "Contemporary Artist Tea Bowl Exhibition" at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo. In 2010, he held a solo exhibition titled "Yoshinobu Morimoto Feature" at Tenmaya in Okayama, among many other exhibitions across the country.