Kuro Guinomi

This is a new Bizen Yohen Kuro Guinomi by Takashi Baba,
an artist born in Imbe who has loved Bizen ware since childhood
and finds great joy in both creating works and firing kilns.

Fired in June 2025 in his newly designed noborigama,
this piece represents one of his latest works.

The Guinomi is a fine example of Baba’s signature tsuchi-nuri technique for Kuro Bizen.
The stylish black slip harmonizes beautifully with the innovative form.

As suggested by the title Yohen Kuro,
the thoroughly fired black slip has acquired a glassy, almost vitreous sheen,
resulting in an alluring and distinctive surface texture.

On the front, goma ash appears as if it were scattered in a single dynamic gesture—
reminiscent of action painting—
where Kigoma gold tones and cobalt-derived indigo mingle in a beautiful interplay.

True to Baba’s deep love of Bizen-making,
the piece features lively and spontaneous hera-kezuri marks,
as though the spatula were “dancing with joy,”
giving the entire vessel a sense of freedom and vitality.

The foot is also highly original:
its form resembles a hexagonal bolt being screwed in,
with rotational, continuous spatula cuts and three-dimensional carving
that immediately draw the viewer’s attention.

He was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture in 1983.
He graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006.
Since 2007 he has been working as a ceramic artist in Bizen City.