Bizen Yunomi

This is a newly kiln-fired Bizen tea cup by Yoshinobu Morimoto, an artist with an exceptional aesthetic sense who continues to evolve in his handling of clay, firing, and craftsmanship. This Bizen-style piece, which Morimoto himself describes as featuring a "covering" (kaburimono), displays layers of *goma* (ash glaze) and *sangiri* (reduction firing marks) that form a profound, kiln-altered exterior. Yet, the essence of this work lies in the exquisite "nuke" (clear spots) that emerge during the firing process beneath this covering, creating superb shadows within the hard-fired surface. Rather than the soft-fired "nuke" often seen in contemporary Bizen ware, the artist has pursued the type of hard-fired "nuke" found in antique Bizen, achieving a three-dimensional and dense texture by adding this covering and these clear spots to a rich, chocolate-colored clay body. Combining the aesthetic sense and modeling skills honed through creating tea ceramics with the deep knowledge gained from studying tea ceremony and antique ceramics, the result is a tea cup that radiates an extraordinary allure and presence. Its large, substantial form also makes it suitable for use as a beer mug. No box
Diameter 9.8cm × 9.0cm × Height 9.1cm Yoshinobu Morimoto was born in Okayama Prefecture in 1976. He completed the Bizen Ceramic Art Center program in 1996. After working independently, he held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2004. Since then, he has held annual solo exhibitions across Japan, with a focus on Tokyo. He was selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art's "Tea Ceremony Ceramics Exhibition" in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2008, he exhibited at the "Contemporary Sake Ware Exhibition" at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, Tokyo, and in 2009, he participated in the "Contemporary Tea Bowl Exhibition" at the same venue. He continues to hold solo exhibitions throughout Japan, including a featured exhibition at Tenmaya in Okayama in 2010.