Natural glaze Nishidansho

Width: 20.4cm Depth: 20.4cm Height: 42cm

Natural glaze made by Tadashi Nishibata

- Neat shadows and tranquil forms created by earth and fire

This piece, "Natural Glaze Ware" by Nishibata Tadashi, is a piece that exudes a quiet strength with a neat silhouette and a natural glaze-woven landscape. The shadows of the natural glaze created by the firing process envelop the entire vessel, expressing the beauty of the form that unites the workings of the earth and the artist's aesthetic sense.

Scenery of natural glaze painted by flames

The ash that naturally accumulates during the long firing process melts and turns into a glaze on the surface of the vessel, forming a soft yet dense layer of color. From ochre to reddish brown and even a scene with floating black spots, the "beauty of natural glaze" that is the result of the dialogue between the earth and the fire spreads all over. The expression is serene, like a morning glow or the surface of a mountain, and gently stirs the senses of the viewer.

A cut-out shape

The overall shape has sharp contours, as if carved out of rock, but the center gently bulges, achieving an exquisite balance between tension and softness. The flat and angular composition gives the vessel a different look when viewed from any angle, not just from the front, and is full of sculptural charm. Its appearance, which is neat and intellectual, yet still retains a rustic feel of the earth, truly embodies "motion within stillness."

The breath of the earth and the artist's will

The red clay from Tanba used in this piece develops color from within when fired, and is rich in color even without the use of glazes. Nishibata-san deliberately does not add glazes, but instead uses natural glazes and kiln changes to bring out the best in the clay. By skillfully leaving traces of the hand and firing process within the neatness of the sculpture, he presents the beauty that is born between "artificiality and nature."

A dignified presence in space

When placed in a tokonoma alcove or gallery space, this natural glaze ware brings a sense of tranquil tension and harmony to the space. It emits a definite presence without saying a word, and has the power to change the very atmosphere of the space. If you put flowers in it, the tranquility is emphasized, but even if it is left alone, its shape and glaze tone still speak to you - this is a vessel with such "beauty of appearance."

A work of art that will last a long time

This piece of pottery will not fade over time, but rather will develop a deeper flavor as it ages. It will respond to the user's sensibilities and become a quiet, living part of their daily lives, allowing them to enjoy it for a long time.

Nishibata Tadashi's "Natural Glazed Ware" is a work that is based on the tradition of Tamba ware, but certainly resonates with modern spaces and the aesthetic sense of the viewer. This vessel, which combines the scenery of the natural glaze with a structural design, can be said to be a quiet miracle woven by earth and fire.

Masashi Nishibata Biography

Born on February 24, 1948. Started making pottery in 1969. 1976. Hyogo Prefectural Exhibition Encouragement Award. 1986. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition for the first time. 1988. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Crafts Association President's Award. 1989. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Handon no Kai, Nogawa Memorial Award. 1991. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition. 1992. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition, Excellence Award, Hyogo Prefecture Emerging Artist Encouragement Award. Invited to exhibit at the NHK-sponsored Paris-Japanese Ceramics Now 100 Selections, Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition. 1993. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima Store, Kyoto Chemin. 1994. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. 1995. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima Store. 1996. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Awarded the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
1997 Encouragement Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition 1998 Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2000 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Fukuoka 2001 Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition at Gallery Dojima 2002 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Solo exhibition at Gallery Dojima 2003 Solo exhibition at Santa Fe Touchingston, USA 2004 Father and son exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima store Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition 2005 Exhibited at Akashi City Museum of Culture and Hyogo Ceramics Exhibition Purchased Akadobedai, Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum Solo exhibition at Gallery Dojima Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi 2006 Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Japan Society Gallery of New York Solo exhibition at Takashimaya Yokohama Touchingston, USA Father and son exhibition at Takashimaya Matsuyama 2007 Toshun-kai Exhibition, Sogo Yokohama Encouragement Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2008 Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition Solo Exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya Mitsukoshi Main Store, Santa Fe, Touchingston, USA Toshun-kai Exhibition, Funabashi Seibu Sogo Hiroshima Invited to exhibit at the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition 2009 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Dojima, Sendai Mitsukoshi 2010 Sogo Kobe Exhibited at the Musee Tomo Grand Prize Exhibition, Contemporary Tea Solo Exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya Touchingston, USA, Santa Fe, 2011 Invited to exhibit at the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition Solo Exhibition, Joan B. Marvis, New York, USA Invited to exhibit at the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition 2013 Exhibited at the Musee Tomo "Contemporary Famous Bowls" Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Main Store, Santa Fe, USA Miyazaki Gallery, Sogo Kobe Chiba Sogo 2014 Solo Exhibition Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Main Store, Santa Fe, USA 2015 Received the Hyogo Prefecture Cultural Award in 2016. Exhibited at Higashihiroshima City Museum of Art for Ceramics that Color Our Lives - Food Wares. Exhibited at Joan B. Marvis' 40th Anniversary Exhibition in 2017.
Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in 2018

A conversation with Masashi Nishibata