Tadashi Mori ceramic show

Tadashi Mori Abstracted Passion! September 3 - October 6, 2004 Click here to see Tadashi Mori's new show

Tadashi Mori 森正 Abstracted 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

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

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

Tea Bowl #5 3.5"H x 5" x 5" (3 views) Sold	Tea Bowl #6 3.5"H x 5" x 5" (3 views) Sold

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

Incense Burner #1 11"H x 5" x 3" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold	Incense Burner #2 13"H x 7" x 5" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold

Incense Burner #3 12"H x 5" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold	Incense Burner #4 11.5"H x 4.5" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold

Incense Burner #5 12.5"H x 5.5" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold	Incense Burner #6 13.5"H x 4.5" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold

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

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)

Incense Burner #11 11"H x 9" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold	Incense Burner #13 11"H x 9" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold

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

Incense Burner #17 12"H x 5" x 3.5" (Unassembled & assembled views) Sold	Incense Burner #19 12"H x 6" x 4" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold

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

Incense Burner #23 9"H x 10.25" x 4.5" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold	Incense Burner #24 12"H x 6.75" x 4.75" (Assembled & unassembled views) Sold

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

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