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Touching Stone Gallery  Santa Fe  New Mexico USA

www.touchingstone.com  Email: director@touchingstone.com

 

Tadashi Mori

Abstracted Passion!

September 3 - October 6, 2004

Click here to see Tadashi Mori's new show


Tadashi Mori  森 正

A
bstracted Passion, an exhibition of extraordinary tea bowls and incense burners by Mori Tadashi, is the first major show of this artist in America. Mori Tadashi (b. 1940) has been a driving force behind the contemporary ceramic movement in Japan. As a young man, Mori aspired to be a sculptor. He worked as a designer in the Yokkaichi ceramic factory. That position allowed him to develop new ceramic designs and decorative glazes. He was strongly influenced by Hineno Sakuzo, a renowned designer who advocated functional design. Hineno, who was very impressed by Mori’s originality and artistic freedom, once commented that Mori had the magical power to draw the audience into a mysterious world.

In 1964, Mori attended the International Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramic Art at the National Museum of Modern Art in Japan, which introduced work by contemporary American ceramic artists. Mori was so inspired by the freedom of American ceramists that he decided to explore new directions in his own work. Drawing on his considerable knowledge in ceramic design and glazes, he began to experiment with free-spirited forms and decorations.

In the early 1970s, Mori resigned from his job at the Yokkaichi ceramic factory and traveled to Rome, Italy. He wanted to experience the art and culture of another ancient civilization, the center of European art renaissance. Amid magnificent architecture and colors, he realized that human beings need the nourishment from culture and art. Upon returning to Japan, he decided to work as a full-time artist, immersing himself in creating and exhibiting original work, for which he received many awards.

Mori’s interest in other cultures further took him to Thailand. Since 1977, he had studied Thai folk art and traveled to Thailand through a Japan-Thailand cultural exchange program. Some of Mori’s most important work, including his monumental pieces entitled "Women Who Like to Whisper", could trace their aesthetic influence to his exposure to international arts. Mori emphasizes spontaneity and freedom in his work. By merging free-spirited forms with bold decorations using traditional Japanese glazes, he has been charting a unique course among contemporary Japanese ceramists. Mori's work exhibits complex personalities without appearing contrived. His pieces often seem to bridge functional forms and art, sculpture and painting, Eastern and Western aesthetics. 

In 1997, Mori was selected among twenty-one noted Japanese artists profiled in a book entitled "Toward a 21st Century Renaissance in Ceramics" (Dohosha Ltd. publisher), in recognition to their contributions to contemporary Japanese ceramics. Peter Voulkos (1924-2002), one of the American ceramists in the 1965 Japan exhibition, wrote in this volume: "Their commitment is very ambitious and (their) risk taking generates an excitement that at once transcends the boundaries that have constrained the development of new ideas and possibilities that ceramics can afford."  It is a fitting tribute to these Japanese artists whom Voulkos and his peers once inspired.   The current show, featuring a spectacular collection of extraordinary tea bowls and incense burners, offers a rare opportunity for international audience to experience the "magic" of this creative artist.


Tea Bowls
 Click on images to view
Inquiry/order: director@touchingstone.com

TeaBowl1_Wa.jpg (45969 bytes)TeaBowl1_Wb.jpg (48344 bytes)TeaBowl1_Wc.jpg (41041 bytes)

TeaBowl2_Wa.jpg (47074 bytes)TeaBowl2_Wb.jpg (55257 bytes)TeaBowl2_Wc.jpg (44392 bytes)

Tea Bowl #1
3.5"H x 5" x 4.5"  (3 views)  
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Tea Bowl #2
3.25"H x 5" x 4.75"  (3 views)


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TeaBowl4_Wa.jpg (62177 bytes)TeaBowl4_Wb.jpg (51495 bytes)TeaBowl4_Wc.jpg (49926 bytes)

Tea Bowl #3
3.5"H x 5" x 5"  (3 views)  
Sold



Tea Bowl #4
3.25"H x 5" x 4.5"  (3 views)  
Sold



TeaBowl5_Wa.jpg (54027 bytes)TeaBowl5_Wb.jpg (47182 bytes)teaBowl5_Wc.jpg (66945 bytes)

TeaBowl6_Wa.jpg (49544 bytes)TeaBowl6_Wb.jpg (44350 bytes)TeaBowl6_Wc.jpg (57330 bytes)
Tea Bowl #5
3.5"H x 5" x 5"  (3 views) 
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Tea Bowl #6
3.5"H x 5" x 5"  (3 views) 
Sold



TeaBowl7_Wa.jpg (65051 bytes)Teabowl7_Wb.jpg (58345 bytes)TeaBowl7_Wc.jpg (63067 bytes)

TeaBowl8_Wa.jpg (52677 bytes)TeaBowl8_Wb.jpg (52098 bytes)TeaBowl8_Wc.jpg (60118 bytes)
Tea Bowl #7
3.5"H x 5" x 5"  (3 views) 
Sold


Tea Bowl #8
3.25"H x 5.5" x 5.25"  (3 views)
Not available
 

   

Incense Burners
IncenseBurner1_Wb.jpg (65124 bytes)IncenseBurner1_Wc.jpg (42982 bytes) IncenseBurner2_Wa.jpg (61909 bytes)IncenseBurner2_Wc.jpg (30574 bytes)
 Incense Burner #1
11"H x 5" x 3"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
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Incense Burner #2
13"H x 7" x 5"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
 Sold


IncenseBurner3_Wa.jpg (63497 bytes)IncenseBurner3_Wc.jpg (38790 bytes) IncenseBurner4_Wa.jpg (64036 bytes)IncenseBurner4_Wc.jpg (36955 bytes)
Incense Burner #3
12"H x 5" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
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Incense Burner #4
11.5"H x 4.5" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views)
 Sold



IncenseBurner5_Wa.jpg (54715 bytes)IncenseBurner5_Wc.jpg (26321 bytes) IncenseBurner6_Wb.jpg (35583 bytes)IncenseBurner6_Wc.jpg (25619 bytes)
Incense Burner #5
12.5"H x 5.5" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
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Incense Burner #6
13.5"H x 4.5" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
 Sold


IncenseBurner7_Lc.jpg (137314 bytes)IncenseBurner7_Wb.jpg (84539 bytes) IncenseBurner8_Wc.jpg (35596 bytes)IncenseBurner8_Wb.jpg (54284 bytes)
 Incense Burner #7
9.5"H x 12" x 4"  (Unassembled & assembled views) 
 Sold


Incense Burner #8
12"H x 6" x 5"  (Unassembled & assembled views) 
 Sold


 
IncenseBurner9_Wa.jpg (30712 bytes)IncenseBurner9_Wc.jpg (53010 bytes) Incence Burner 10Incense Burner 10
 Incense Burner #9
9.5"H x 12" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views)


 
Incense Burner #10
10.5"H x 10.5" x 4.5"  (Assembled & unassembled views)


 
IncenseBurner11_Wb.jpg (64534 bytes)IncenseBurner11_Wc.jpg (33980 bytes) IncenseBurner13_Wb.jpg (48186 bytes)IncenseBurner13_Wc.jpg (23169 bytes)
 Incense Burner #11
11"H x 9" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
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Incense Burner #13
11"H x 9" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views)  
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IncenseBurner14_Wa.jpg (45515 bytes)IncenseBurner14_Wc.jpg (32435 bytes) IncenseBurner16_Wa.jpg (51952 bytes)IncenseBurner16_Wc.jpg (68907 bytes)
Incense Burner #14
12.5"H x 6" x 5.5"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
 Sold


 Incense Burner #16
11.5"H x 4" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
Sold


 
IncenseBurner17_Wc.jpg (73431 bytes)IncenseBurner17_Wb.jpg (57556 bytes) IncenseBurner19_Wa.jpg (40716 bytes)IncenseBurner19_Wc.jpg (56602 bytes)
Incense Burner #17
12"H x 5" x 3.5"  (Unassembled & assembled views) 
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Incense Burner #19
12"H x 6" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
Sold



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 Incense Burner #20
11"H x 6" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
Sold



Incense Burner #21
12"H x 4.5" x 4"  (Assembled & unassembled views)
 Sold


 
IncenseBurner23_Wa.jpg (78766 bytes)IncenseBurner23_Wc.jpg (94164 bytes) IncenseBurner24_Wa.jpg (67914 bytes)IncenseBurner24_Wc.jpg (75199 bytes)
 Incense Burner #23
9"H x 10.25" x 4.5"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
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 Incense Burner #24
12"H x 6.75" x 4.75"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
 Sold


  IncenseBurner22_Wc.jpg (139445 bytes)IncenseBurner22_Wb.jpg (39004 bytes)
Incense Burner #15
11.75"H x 6.5" x 5"  (Assembled & unassembled views) 
 Sold

Incense Burner #22
10"H x 10" x 4"  (Unassembled & assembled views) 
Sold


Chronology
1940        Born in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture
1958        Graduated from ceramic department, Yokkaichi Technical High School
               Designer in Yokkaichi ceramic factory
1964        Founding member and representative of the DAC potters group
1968        Established studio Tadashi Craft
1973        Founding member of the Nagoya Togei Club
1977        Studied Thai folk art through Japan-Thailand cultural exchange program
1980        Released Song of Summer Grass, a documentary film on Mori's ceramic art
1982        Visited sites in Thailand through Japan-Thailand cultural exchange program
1983        Studied the tea ceremony
1985        Established current studio in Sugitani, Komono-cho

Solo Exhibitions
1964        Imai Gallery, Osaka
1983-89   Imai Department Store, Sapporo
               Gallery Cryness, Sendai
               Kawamoto-Ichibankan, Morioka
               Ikebukuro Seibu, Tokyo
               Akasaka Inui Gallery, Tokyo
               Garando Gallery, Nagoya
               Maruzen Gallery, Nagoya
               Daimaru, Osaka & Kochi
               Horodo, Osaka
               Marukoshi Department Store, Kanazawa
               Tosenbo, Kyoto
               Gallery Maronie, Kyoto
1990        Shibuya Seibu, Tokyo
               Akasaka Inui Gallery
1991        Narita Hotel, Chiba
1992        Yama Gallery, Yokkaichi
               Maruei, Nagoya
1993        Akasaka Inui Gallery
               Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, Tokyo
               Maruei, Toyohashi
1994        Hanamido, Kawagoe
               Isetan, Tokyo
1995        Hanamido, Kawagoe
               Maruei, Nagoya
1996        Gallery Tosoan, Nagoya
               Ashikaga Inui Gallery, Ashikaga
               Horodo, Nagoya International Hotel
1997        Rokujuen, Tsushima
1998        Maruei, Toyohashi
               Hashimoto Bijutsu, Nagoya
               Ashikaga Inui Gallery, Ashikaga
1999        Maruei, Nagoya
               Ashikaga Inui Gallery, Ashikaga
2000        Maruei, Toyohashi
               Hashimoto Bijutsu, Nagoya
               Ashikaga Inui Gallery, Ashikaga
2001        Maruei, Toyohashi
               Akasaka Inui Gallery, Tokyo
2002        Hashimoto Bijutsu, Nagoya
               Akasaka Inui Gallery, Tokyo
2003        Maruei, Nagoya
               Hashimoto Bijutsu, Nagoya
               Akasaka Inui Gallery, Tokyo
2004        Hashimoto Bijutsu, Nagoya
               Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
2005        Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Major Group Exhibitions
1976        Faenza International Ceramic Exhibition, Italy
1990        Senshukai, Hotel Okura, Tokyo
                Meme-Pool Exhibition, Tokyo Ohara Center
                Symposium for Amusement, Saitoan, Hagi
1993        Toh Kaigi 6, Mie Prefectural Museum of Art, Tsu
1994        Toh Kaigi 6, Mie Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art

Awards / Selected Publications
1962        Governor of Mie Prize (twice), crafts department of Mie Arts Exhibition
               Chairman of Parliament Prize, crafts department of Mie Arts Exhibition
1963        Governor of Aichi Prize, First Asahi Ceramic Arts Exhibition
               Second Prize, Japan Ceramic Design Competition
1964-70   Silver Prize, Japan Fiber Design Competition
               Copper Prize (twice), Japan Fiber Design Competition
1972        Encouragement Prize, Asahi Ceramic Arts Exhibition
1973        Special Prize (Kawasaki Prize), Asahi Ceramic Arts Exhibition
1975        Special Prize, Chunichi International Ceramic Arts Exhibition
1976        Governor of Aichi Prize, Chunichi International Ceramic Arts Exhibition
1979        Encouragement Prize, Asahi Ceramic Arts Exhibition
1997        Toward a 21st Century Renaissance in Ceramics, Dohosha Ltd. Publisher
2007        "Enku". Ceramics Art & Perception vol. 66, p.30-32.

Public Collections

Okushino Sekitei, Ise All Nipon Airline Hotel, Osaka Taikoen, Osaka Hokke Building, Nobeoka Chinzanso, Tokyo Winghill House, Nikko Narita Hotel, Chiba Nagoya International Hotel Rokujuen, Tsushima