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Special articles 1: Why did one exhibition of Bizen ceramic wares collect a historically large number of visitors?
One exhibition was held at Okayama City Museum Feb. 2-24,2016.
It was planned independently without any supper by major ceramic association, but unexpected number of local people visit here.
More than 300people came there each day. It recorded 70o on Sunday of Feb. 7.
It should record the historically high number of visitors per day there.
Special articles 2: Bizen Ceramics reached its peak in quality about 450years ago as using Huge Klins
Old Bizen of Momoyama era (about 450 years ago) gets the highest reputation among collections in Japan.
Most of these works were burned in a huge Klin(50m length, 5m width and 2-3m height).
Huge Klins were ruined economically about 200years ago.
Now a lot of individual small Klins exist in Bizen area, but it’s quality should be lower.
Only Master Tougaku Mori, my teacher of pottery, had reconstructed and uses huge Klins now.
I was in charge of the project of reconstructing huge Klins for more than 15 years.
Current Huge Klin (85m x 6m x 3m)
Special articles 3: What is the Ogama(huge or large Klin)?
There is no strict classification in the size between small and large Klins.
Ogama should be able to burn the same quality of ceramics as Old Bizen(of Momoyama era).
From this point, at least 20m in length(x 2m width x 2m height) should be necessary.
The size of old Ogama was 50m in length(x 5m width x 2-3m height).
Master Togaku and his team own three large klins(20, 50, 85m).
85m huge Klin filled with woods fuel
Special articles 4: Main reasons of high quality of Ogama Bizen.
Long burning period, it takes several months to burn the works completely.
We burned the 85m Klin for 107 days(24hrs a day) continuously.
In usual cases of Bizen, it takes 1 to 2 weeks. Other ceramics in Japan are normally completed in 1 to 3 days.
Huge amount of woods burning makes very thick and complicated natural glaze.
Huge internal space leads to very complicated colors and patterns of ceramics by natural.
Need to assemble various skills of many professionals. It is completely different from the current individual smaller Klins.
Water Container(about 50 gallons)
Special articles 5: Possible booming of Bizen Ceramics
Key points for getting popularity; very Japanese original, no similarity or one and only in Japan, having a long history,
and not so far away from the major sightseeing area like Kyoto. I think all of these conditions are contained in Bizen.
Most of people are from Okayama ar nearby prefectures.
Very few foreign people know this exhibition or Bizen ceramics.
This is completely different from recent Japanese cultural events which is fully occupied by foreign tourists.
Among Japanese traditional ceramics, Bizen establish one of the highest reputation.
Tougakuteam work in the 85 m Klin.
Special articles 6: history of Ogama Project
Lead by Master Togaku Mori, it started in 1973.
His team constructed two 50m Ogamas(huge Klins) and burn them 7times in last 40 years.
This project(50m Ogama) got a reputation that Old Bizen of Momoyama ears was completely resurrected.
Tougaku noticed the limit of 50 Klins.
He planned to construct the neo Ogama of 85 meters in 1989.
I myself joined this project in 2001.
Finish its first 107 days burning in 2015
As explained, its first exhibition in Okayama, motherland of Bizen ceramics, achieves historical success in 2016.
Backside of 85m Klin, about 100days passed since the beginning of burning.
Special articles 7: Only Severn Samurai Potters can accomplish this heritage in 2015
Tougaku selected 10 disciples as candidates to attend this project at first.
Only 6 disciples and himself survive.
I myself fortunately can complete this project as a member.
Through 7times burning of 50m Klins, Tougaku and his team get the reputation, it’s quality should be equal to old Bizen of 450yrs ago.
In last three years, we successfully got this quality even by 20m Klins.
Target of 85m Klin is beyond the old Bizen. And it’s result is proved by many visitors of current exhibition.
Largest container and myself ath the opening of 85m Klin
森陶岳展
２月２日(火) 〜 ２４日(水) :月曜日休館 10:00 〜 20:00
岡山シティミュジアム４階 にて 新大窯の作品を初披露
松井の在館日は、
2(初日火曜日)、5(火)、6(水)、11(木)、13(土)、17(水)、20(土)、23(火)、24(楽日水曜日)
ご案内しますので、お気軽にお声かけください
自窯、始まります。
大窯が焚き上がった日より、相生窯の焼成のため製作に没頭しておりました。
６月15日、火をいれます。
大窯焼成終了
４月20日、火を止めました。
３ヶ月に渡る長丁場、事故もなく終えました。ありがとうございました。
