Tomohiro Matsumoto solo exhibition

We are delighted to present a solo exhibition by Tomohiro Matsumoto. This year, once again, the exhibition will feature a wide variety of works, including Shigaraki, Yūka Shigaraki, and overglaze red-painted ware.

Now, Yūka Shigaraki is a technique unique to Matsumoto, at least as far as I know, and I consider it a brilliant invention. The process involves first firing Shigaraki clay in an anagama, then applying glaze to the fired piece and firing it once again.

Shigaraki fired in an anagama is prized for its hiiro fire color and natural ash glaze. But as many of you know, wood-fired kilns, including anagama, are notoriously difficult to control, and not everything that emerges after several days of firing will become a finished work. If a piece fails to develop a good keshiki—the desired “landscape” created by the firing—it may be fired again. Cracks and chips are also common.

So after going through all that trouble to produce a piece of Shigaraki, who would then think of deliberately covering it with glaze and putting it back into the kiln yet again?

A madman, perhaps.

And yet, his idea worked beautifully. The transformations created during the original Shigaraki firing become sealed beneath the glaze, resulting in ceramics with a wonderfully mysterious character unlike anything else.

This year, Matsumoto will also present a large number of chopstick rests, which have recently become something of an obsession for him. Shigaraki, Oribe, lapis blue, bronze, turquoise blue, and more. Some are even large enough to serve as little salt dishes.

Apparently, he is having so much fun making chopstick rests that he simply cannot stop...

Impressive.

This exhibition promises to have a slightly different atmosphere from usual.

We look forward to welcoming you.