Touching Stone Japanese pottery, ceramics, & sumi-e Gallery

Hiroyuki Wakimoto Testaments Japanese Bizen Ceramics inspired by the American Southwest June 29 - July 25, 2012
See more of this artist's work: 2002 show, 2003 show, 2004 show, 2005 show, 2006 show, 2007 show, 2009 show, 2010 show, 2012 show, 2016 show

Hiroyuki Wakimoto 脇本博之 - Ancient Inspirations in Modern Bizen Ceramics For centuries, wood-fired pottery from the "six ancient kilns" in Japan (Tanba, Bizen, Echizen, Shigaraki, Tokoname, and Seto) helped cultivate a quiet aesthetic sensibility and appreciation for simple unadorned beauty. The pottery center of Bizen produced many exceptional ceramists and more Living National Treasures than any other historic pottery areas. This luminous heritage offers great inspirations for contemporary ceramists, but at the same time leaves an enormous legacy for them to live up to. Traditionally, Bizen pottery is made for use. Blessed with a good local clay that turns brilliant red after firing, historically Bizen ceramists emphasized firing effects yet adhered to functional conservative forms. It is a challenge for Bizen artists to innovate without risking disconnection from old Bizen tradition. Hiroyuki Wakimoto is a notable exception who successfully integrates creativity with the Bizen tradition. Born in 1952 in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture in Kyushu, Hiroyuki Wakimoto received art training in textile design in Osaka Art College. In his senior year, while visiting a friend who was doing an apprenticeship in Bizen, Wakimoto found his true calling. He began an apprenticeship under George Yamashita, an accomplished ceramist who studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. With a great interest in forms and training in design, Wakimoto set out to create some of the most interesting works in contemporary Japanese ceramics, recognized by bold, sophisticated forms with clean lines and beautiful fire markings.
The Achilles heel of many innovative wood-fire ceramists is in the firing process. In this respect, Wakimoto’s mastery of the firing process is legendary. He does a 14-days firing once a year in a three-chambered noborigama (climbing kiln) that holds up to a thousand pieces, representing his entire year’s work. This working style requires extraordinary confidence and impeccable technical expertise. He keeps detailed records of every firing, including data on temperature and the exact position of every piece in the kiln. Wakimoto's meticulous approach and technical excellence allow him to carry his artistic visions to fruition. Wakimoto has long been interested in ancient cultures. Some of his early works were inspired by old Japanese and Chinese utensils. In 2004, Wakimoto visited New Mexico on invitation by Touching Stone Gallery and the New Mexico Museum of International Folk Art to exhibit at the inaugurating International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe. During that visit, Wakimoto held a roundtable discussion on wood-fired pottery with local ceramic artists, and toured some of the ancient Native American ruins in the area. The distinctive culture of the Southwest left a strong impression on Wakimoto, casting subtle influences on his subsequent works. Some of the works in his current show appear to be inspired by architectural designs of the ancient ruins, testaments to a fascinating dialog between the diverse ancient cultures in the East and West.	Wakimoto exploring the Pecos Historical Monument, New Mexico in 2004
During his distinguished career, Wakimoto has won many prestigious awards, including the Grand Prize of Yakishime Exhibition. Since his American debut in 2002, he has exhibited every year or two in Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe. His works continuously evolved, every show is fresh, original and exciting. Such untiring quest for new ideas is possibly the most important attribute of a creative artist, a quality that may ultimately distinguish art itself from craft.

Click on images to view selected pieces Inquiry/order: director@touchingstone.com, see Inquiry/Order

Testament No. 1

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 26" x 7.5" x 10.5"h (2 views)

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Testament No. 2
wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 11"h x 8.5" x 4" (2 views)

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Testament No. 3

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 10"h x 6.5" x 5.5" (2 views)

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Testament No. 4

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 8"h x 8" x 7" (2 views)

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Testament No. 5

wood-fired ceramic bowl 8.5" x 8" x 5"h (2 views)

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Testament No. 6

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 10.5"h x 8" x 3" (2 views)

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Testament No. 7

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 9"h x 7" x 3" (2 views)

Testament No. 8

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 9.5"h x 7" x 4" (2 views)

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Testament No. 9

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 10"h x 8" x 5" (2 views)

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Testament No. 10

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 7" x 3.5" x 6.5"h (2 views)

Testament No. 11

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 7.5"h x 5" x 3.5" (2 views)

Testament No. 12

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 14"h x 9.5" x 7" (2 views)

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Testament No. 13

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 7.5"h x 5.5" x 4.5" (2 views)

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Testament No. 14

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 8.5"h x 7.5" x 5" (2 views)

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Testament No. 15

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 7.5"h x 5.5" x 4.5" (2 views)

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Testament No. 16

wood-fired ceramic vase/sculpture 9"h x 6" x 4.5" (2 views)

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Testament No. 17

wood-fired ceramic bowl 8" x 7.5" x 5"h (2 views)

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Testament No. 18

wood-fired ceramic bowl 6.5" x 5.5" x 5"h (2 views)

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Testament No. 19

wood-fired ceramic hanging plate 16"h x 5.5" x 1.5"

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Testament No. 20

wood-fired ceramic hanging vase 12"h x 5" x 1.5"

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Testament No. 21

wood-fired ceramic wall plate 10.5"h x 6.5" x 1"

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Testament No.22

wood-fired ceramic wall plate 11"h x 8" x 1.5"

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Testament No. 23

wood-fired ceramic hanging vase 6"h x 4.5" x 3"

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Testament No. 24

wood-fired ceramic hanging vase 6"h x 5" x 3"

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Testament No. 25

wood-fired ceramic hanging vase 7"h x 4.5" x 2"

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Testament No. 26

wood-fired ceramic hanging vase 5"h x 6" x 2"

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Hiroyuki Wakimoto (left) discussing wood-firing at the Anagama in Madrid, New Mexico with
ceramist Betsy Williams (2nd left), Touching Stone Gallery co-owner Akiko Hirano (3rd left), University
of New Mexico ceramic art professor Bill Gilbert (4th left), and ceramist Dan Feibig (5th left) (2004).

Exhibitions & Awards

1952 Born in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu

1975 Osaka Art College

1981 Apprenticeship under Bizen ceramist Joji Yamashita

1990 Established own kiln in Bizen

Honorable Mention, 52nd Itt-sui Kai Ten

1991 8th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

2nd Biennial Ceramic Exhibition

38th Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition

1st Yaki-shime Ten

Honorable Mention, 53rd Itt-sui Kai Ten

1992 9th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

30th Asahi Ceramics Exhibition

39th Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition

54th Itt-sui Kai Ten

1993 Honorable Mention, 3rd Biennial Ceramic Exhibition

31st Asahi Ceramics Exhibition

36th Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition, China Branch

Asahi Contemporary Arts & Crafts Invitational Exhibition

1994 11th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

Grand Prize, 2nd Yaki Shime Juried Show

Chairman’s Award, Japan Arts & Crafts Exhibition, Chu-goku Chapter

1995 12th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

13th Japan Ceramics Exhibition

42th Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition

1996 13th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

34th Asahi Ceramics Exhibition

1997 14th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

35th Asahi Ceramics Exhibition

44th Japan Traditional Arts & Crafts Exhibition

Nominated as a permanent member of Japan Arts & Crafts Association

1998 15th Cha-no-yu no Zo-kei Ten, Tanabe Museum

1999 37th Asahi Ceramics Exhibition

2000 3 - 4 shows every year in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe

2002 Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

2003 Kuroda Toen Gallery, Tokyo

Tenmaya, Takamatsu