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 work with clay, firing, and craftsmanship. This Bizen-style piece, which Morimoto himself describes as featuring a "kaburimono" (layered glaze/ash effect), displays multiple overlapping layers of *goma* (ash glaze) and *sangiri* (reduction-fired patterns) that form a profound, kiln-altered mantle. However, the true essence of this work lies not in that exterior, but in the exquisite "nuke" (uncovered or highlighted areas) born from the firing process, which creates magnificent shadows against the firmly fired surface of the clay. Rather than the soft "sweet-fired" highlights often seen in contemporary Bizen, he has pursued the tightly fired "nuke" found in antique Bizen, applying the "kaburimono" and these highlights to a rich, chocolate-like clay body to complete a three-dimensional and dense texture. Combining the aesthetic sensibility and modeling techniques cultivated through creating tea ceramics such as tea bowls with the deep knowledge gained from studying the tea ceremony and antique ceramics, this tea cup emanates an extraordinary allure and presence. It is large and substantial, and can also be used as a beer mug. No box included
Diameter 8.4cm x 8.4cm x Height 10.2cm 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 throughout Japan. He was selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art's "Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition" in 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2008, he participated in the "Contemporary Artists' Sake Cup Exhibition" at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo. In 2009, he participated in the "Contemporary Artists' Tea Bowl Exhibition" at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, Tokyo. He has held solo exhibitions in various locations, including the "Yoshinobu Morimoto Special Exhibition" at Tenmaya, Okayama, in 2010.