Bizen Pottery Artists from Japan Taiga Mori, Syo Fujita, Toshiaki Mori

Bizen Pottery Artists from Japan
Taiga Mori, Syo Fujita, Toshiaki Mori

As we referred on our news letter before, Shumpei Yamaki collaborated firing with three Japanese Bizen pottery artists, who visited from Japan, Taiga Mori, Syo Fujita and Toshiaki Mori.
These young artists spent two month for a trans-American journey with cultivating cultural exchanges.
They had tea ceremony with their own tea bowls with a splendid view of nature in places.
Experience of making pottery and working together with the potters in USA stimulated their sensitivity.
In the final phase of the trip, their works were used at the tea ceremony which
Urasenke Chanoyu Center of New York held. Moist tea bowls and utensils* created
summerly atmosphere.

We could luckily keep their few works and would like to introduce them.
Please come and take a look.

* Bizen style pottery and unglazed pottery are often soaked in water before use. Wet surface shows up beautifully and feeling in your hand becomes nicer.
** Click the links to see more info and pictures!
Taiga Mori -Bio and pic
Syo Fujita - Bio and pic
Toshiaki Mori -Bio and pic

Flower Vase
by Toshiaki Mori
Toshiaki built this piece at the Ceramic Center in Iowa and fired at Shumpei's "Kumahei Kiln"

Pentagon Tea Bowl
by Toshiaki Mori
Built in Bizen, Japan and sent biscuit-fired bowl to Iowa.
Wood fired in "Kumahei" kiln.

Tea Bowl
by Syo Fujita
Syo mixed four kinds of clay, Bizen clay, the local clay from Shumpei's studio, porcelain clay and brown clay.
Wood fired in "Kumahei" kiln.

Black Tea Bowl
by Syo Fujita
Made in Bizen, Japan

Black Tea Bowl
by Syo Fujita
Made in Bizen, Japan

Tea Bowl with Wooden Box
by Taiga Mori
Made in Bizen, Japan

Tea Bowl with Wooden Box
by Taiga Mori
Made in Bizen, Japan

Syo Fujita : Bizen Pottery Artist

1978  Born in Wakayama-city,Japan



1987  Study art in Kyoji Ono(an artist of Western painting) class for 4 years



1993  Study preparatory drawing and design in Hisamitsu Yamauchi (an artist of Western painting) class for 3 years



1997  Study ceramics under pottery artist,Yasuaki Kawasaki and Minoru Nakamura



1998  Study about Bizen ware in Bizen Ceramic Center



1999  After graduating from Center,study under Bizen pottery artist,Kazuya Hashimoto for 5 years



2004  Starting business as a Bizen pottery artist in Wake-town,Okayma

Nationally, fujita's work is exhibited to represent Bizen style.

藤田　祥

1978年  和歌山市に生まれる

1987年  洋画家小野教治(きょうじ)教室で4年間美術全般を学ぶ

1993年  洋画家山内久光(ひさみつ)教室で3年間デッサンとデザインを学ぶ

1997年  和歌山市の陶芸家川崎泰明(やすあき)・中村実に陶芸を学ぶ

1998年  岡山県備前陶芸センターにて陶芸研修

1999年  同センター修了後、備前焼作家橋本和哉に5年間師事する

2004年  岡山県和気町にて独立、初窯を出す

以後は、日本各地で個展 • 備前焼ワークショップ • 公募展入選多数

 

Tea Bowl
Syo mixed four kinds of clay, Bizen clay, the local clay from Shumpei's studio, porcelain clay and brown clay.
Wood fired in "Kumahei" kiln.

Black Tea Bowl
Made in Bizen, Japan

Black Tea Bowl
Made in Bizen, Japan

Taiga Mori : Bizen Pottery Artist

1974  Born in Bizen, , Mori was introduced to pottery at an early age from his grandfather, Furai Mori.

2000  (due to Furai’s demise), Mori began to explore his own style through apprenticeship under Gyokushu Kimura.

2001  The first solo exhibit was held at the Gallery To-midori in Tokyo.

2003  Awardee of the Art Mirai International Art Exhibition’s New Comers Award (Sculpture Division)

2011  Awards: Awardee of the “Chanoyu-no-Zokei-ten” Competition organized by The Tanabe Museum of Art, Tottori, Japan 

Currtently, Mori's work have been accepted by many galleries in Japanese major cities.

森　大雅 

1974年  岡山県備前市伊部生まれ

2000年  陶芸センター卒業 祖父、風来の窯を継承 陶彫を木村玉舟に学ぶ

2001年  東京初個展以降、日本各地の主要都市で個展・グループ展を開催 

2003年  国際アート未来彫塑部門新人賞

2011年  茶の湯の造形展入選 　陶芸財団展　ポーラ伝統文化振興財団賞

日本工芸会中国支部展入選（2009～2010）

岡山県美術展示会入選（2009～2010）

Tea Bowl with Wooden Box
Made in Bizen, Japan

Tea Bowl with Wooden Box
Made in Bizen, Japan

Toshiaki Mori : Bizen Pottery Artist

1982　Born in Bizen-city, Okayama as the eldest son of MORI YASUSHI (A direct descendant in Mr. TERAMI, One of the Bizen Ware Kiln Six Grand Masters)



2005　Study about Bizen ware in Bizen Ceramic Center

2006 After graduating from Center, starting business as a Bizen pottery artist in Bizen-city, Okayma



2007　Accepted for the 58th Okayama Prefectural Exhibition (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)



2009　Accepted for the 29th CHOZASYO Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition



2010　Accepted for the 4th Modern Tea Ceremony Arts Exhibition (2012) 
Accepted for the 53rd Chugoku branch Exhibition of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts (2012)



2011　Accepted for the 28th Tea Ceremony Formative Arts Ｅxhibition of TANABE Museum of Art

1982年　備前焼窯元六姓 森 泰司の長男として、岡山県備前市に生まれる 

2005年　備前陶芸センターにて備前焼について学ぶ 

2006年　センター修了後、岡山県備前市にて作家活動を始める 

2007年　第58回 岡山県美術展覧会 入選（2008、2009、2010、2011）

2009年　第29回 長三賞現代陶芸ビエンナーレ 入選

2010年　第４回 現代茶陶展 入選（2012）第53回 日本伝統工芸中国支部展 入選（2012） 

2011年　第28回 田辺美術館大賞「茶の湯の造形展」入選

Flower Vase
by Toshiaki Mori
Toshiaki built this piece at the Ceramic Center in Iowa and fired at Shumpei's "Kumahei Kiln"

Pentagon Tea Bowl
Built in Bizen, Japan and sent biscuit-fired bowl to Iowa.
Wood fired in "Kumahei" kiln.

New Arrivals : Sculpture with Natural Stone by Tim Rowan

Naoki visited Tim Rowan's studio in Stone Ridge last week and brought his works.
His studio is located by the water reservoir, used to be a blue-stone pit.
The sculptures that we are featuring in this mail are made with blue stone from his property. Cracks remind us hatching eggs, these happened to come out naturally during the process of drying and firing.
We have more of his works, please come and take a look.

Sculpture with Blue Stone
W 12" x D5"1/2 x H 8"

Sculpture with Blue Stone
W 11" x D3" x H 4"1/2

 

Sculpture with Blue Stone
W 12"1/2 x D4" x H 5"1/2

Kintsugi Kit from Gen Saratani

Kintsugi Kit is now for sale, which Gen Saratani uses at his Kintsugi class.
There are 12 items including real raw lacquer, colored lacquer, pure gold powder, other materials, tools and explanatory leaflet.
This kit is perfect for the beginner to work for the ceramics with a few chip or simple crack.
Please contact to kintsugi_class@icloud.com to purchase Kintsugi kit.

* You can see the sample at Sara, but please note Sara Japanese Pottery do not sell this kit.

Gen Saratani's Activity

It is great to hear that our lacquer artist, Gen Saratani, has been active not only for "Kintsugi" ceramic restoration but also for giving lecture and workshops.
In June, he had lecture for the member of Urasenke Chanoyu Center of New York, it focused the history and basic knowledge of lacquer. There was also demonstration with showing his tools and the process of "Makie*" decoration technique.
(*"Makie" is Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold/silver or sea shell as a decoration. " Kintsugi" ceramic restoration is basically used the "Makie" decoration technique.)
 
He also visited "Shofuso" tea house and gave a  lecture to the member of  Urasenke Tankokai Philadelphia Association .
In addition, Gen had workshop to the conservators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is an advanced class of "Kintsugi" ceramic restoration.

Kintsugi class is still available, please contact to kintsugi_class@icloud.com if you are interested in taking his class.
It must be fun to know the Japanese traditional method and technique!

Lecture about history and basic knowledge of lacquer

Explaining the process of layering lacquer and his tools.

Kintsugi Class for the conservator at Metropolitan Museum of Art