Born 1937, Imbe, Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
As the leading artist working in traditional Bizen techniques, MORI TŌGAKU has been at the forefront of the Japanese ceramic art world for more than thirty years. In 1985, he completed an extraordinarily large semi-underground climbing kiln, where most of his work has been produced. In 2015, he completed an even larger 85-meter Momoyama-style climbing kiln, where he has begun firing new pieces. This completely wood-powered kiln is unprecedented in size, and demonstrates the spirit of his work well. While he remains deeply rooted in traditional styles and techniques, his work pushes beyond the boundaries of the past. Influenced by ancient Bizen ware and its Chinese prototypes, such as Sue ware, he highly values the texture of clay and sometimes combines two or three different kinds of clay to create vessels that are both dramatically modern and reflective of old tradition.
Bizen multi-faceted standing vessel with cinched waist, sculpted shoulder and raised three-lipped mouth
1990
Unglazed stoneware
11 x 6 x 5 1/2 in.
SOLD
Large undulating wave-like Bizen vessel
1990
Unglazed stoneware with kiln effects
15 1/8 x 12 3/4 in.
Inv# 7635
SOLD
Bizen multi-faceted standing vessel with collared mouth
1990
Unglazed stoneware
10 1/4 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/4 in.
SOLD
Bizen faceted waterjar
1990
Stoneware
6 5/8 x 6 5/8 in.
SOLD
Bizen vertical-tiered vessel with flattened collar; fired in climbing kiln in a saggar
1990
Bizen stoneware
11 x 6 1/4 in.
SOLD
Flattened ovoid vessel with raised flaring mouth and red and purple abstract patterning
1980s
Earthenware with painted decoration
9 x 6 3/4 in.
SOLD
Black square vase
ca. 1985
Bizen stoneware
8 5/8 x 5 3/4 x 3 in.
Inv# 7190
SOLD
Stoneware vessel with bulbous base, inlayed red circle patterning and silver
1975
Earthenware with red and silver slip
9 x 7 x 5 in.
Inv# 10959
SOLD
Earthenware vase with color painted decoration
ca. 1971
Earthenware
11 5/8 x 9 1/2 in.
SOLD
