Blue Tea Bowl by Takeshi Shimizu

Height: 11.0cm Width: 9.0cm

Shiogama Tea Bowl by Tsuyoshi Shimizu - A superb masterpiece created by combining the blue of gosu and salt kiln techniques

A tea bowl with a captivating blue glow

The "Shiogama Tea Bowl by Tsuyoshi Shimizu" is a tea bowl characterized by its vivid and deep blue color. This beautiful blue color is created using gosu, a traditional blue pigment, and gives it a sense of transparency and depth that is different from glaze. Thanks to Tsuyoshi Shimizu's skillful technique, the gosu color is evenly and vividly applied throughout the bowl, capturing the hearts of those who see it. The brilliance of this blue adds a new level of color to your tea ceremony.

The unique texture created by the salt kiln technique

This tea bowl is a masterpiece that combines nature and craftsmanship, crafted using the salt kiln technique. Originating in Germany in the 13th century, the salt kiln technique involves adding salt during firing to create a unique texture on the surface of the bowl. Tsuyoshi Shimizu practices this technique in a traditional climbing kiln, firing the bowl slowly for two and a half days at a high temperature of over 1230°C. The minute irregularities and natural texture created during this process make the salt kiln tea bowl a special piece to touch.

A fusion of traditional and modern gosu

Gosu is a historic pigment passed down from ancient Chinese pottery and deeply rooted in Japanese pottery culture. By combining this traditional material with contemporary design and the salt kiln technique, Tsuyoshi Shimizu breathes new life into the Shiogama tea bowl. The vibrant blue of the gosu and the unique texture of the salt kiln technique harmonize to create a work of art in which history and innovation beautifully coexist.

Intricate craftsmanship that shows off the artisan's skills

This tea bowl embodies Tsuyoshi Shimizu's outstanding technique and aesthetic sensibility. The way the gosu is applied and the firing process in the salt kiln are meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail, and every time you pick up the tea bowl, you'll be impressed by the meticulous craftsmanship. Combining practicality and beauty, this tea bowl will create a special moment in your everyday life.

Making your tea ceremony experience special

This Shiogama tea bowl will make your tea ceremony experience even more special and enriching. Its beautiful blue color and the texture unique to salt kilns will elevate your tea ceremony to a sophisticated space. Its easy-to-use shape and comfortable weight enhance its practicality while maintaining an exquisite balance with its beautiful appearance.

Timeless beauty and value

Shimizu Tsuyoshi's Shiogama tea bowls are works of eternal value that retain their beauty over time. The more you use them, the more their texture improves, and you develop a special relationship with them. Not only will they be cherished for a lifetime, but they will also retain their value as masterpieces worthy of being passed down to future generations.

Biography
Born in Tachikui, Hyogo Prefecture in 1975
1999 Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts, Department of Crafts, majoring in ceramics. Studied under ceramic artists Masayuki Imai and Masamasa
2005 - Worked at the Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo (until 2012)
2010 - 2011 Part-time lecturer at Hyogo University of Teacher Education
2015: Visited Canada (Owata, Vancouver) through a Ministry of Foreign Affairs program
2019 Lecture at the Japan-Korea Academic Symposium (Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Museum/Korea, '16)

Major Exhibitions/Open Call Exhibitions
2010 Biennale KUMAMOTO FINAL (Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art)
2012 Kyoto Prefectural Art and Craft New Artists Exhibition, Kyoto Art and Craft Biennale (Kyoto Museum of Art)
2013: Selected for the 22nd Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition ('11)
2014 Gwangju Biennale (Gwangju Folk Museum/South Korea)
2016 Exhibition of crafts from UCCN in the field of Crafts & Folk Art
(Icheon World Ceramic Center/Korea)
2017 Ischawan, One World: International Artists Chawan Ren Exhibition (Ryudo Makoto/Taiwan)
2018 2018 TEA BOWL Exhibition of Gyeongsanam-Do (Gimhae Cultural Center/Korea)
150 Years of Hyogo Pottery - From Technique and Craftsmanship to Art and Individuality (The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo)
2019 KOGEI Art Fair KANAZAWA 2019 (THE SHARE HOTELS KUMU Kanazawa)
2022: Selected for the 39th Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition (Tabe Museum of Art/Shimane) (6 times in total)
2023 Selected for the 10th Kikuchi Biennale (Kikuchi Kanmi Memorial Museum Tomo/Tokyo)

Awards
2010 Contemporary Ceramic Art Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition 2010 (Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi Museum of Art, Urakami Memorial Museum) Honorable Mention
2011: Honorable Mention at the 57th All-Kansai Art Exhibition (Osaka Municipal Museum of Art) (2009: Same award)
Kobe Biennale 2011 Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition Encouragement Award (same award in 2009)
2017 Hyogo Prefecture Art Encouragement Award
2018: 11th Contemporary Tea Ceremony Exhibition, Excellence Award; 23rd Mino Tea Bowl Exhibition, Gold Award
2019 12th Contemporary Tea Ceramics Exhibition Excellence Award 5th Geibunkyo Exhibition Kyoto City Mayor Award
2023 15th Contemporary Tea Ceramics Exhibition Excellence Award