Ryuichi Kakurezaki (b. 1950) was born in Nagasaki Prefecture and, after graduating from Osaka University of the Arts, moved to Bizen to study under the late Living National Treasure, Jun Isezaki. Since debuting his work in 1985, he has established a bold, sculptural style—unprecedented in traditional Bizen ware—by utilizing a diverse range of clays (such as mountain clay, rice paddy field clay, and blended mixtures) while grounding his practice in traditional wheel-throwing, hand building, and kurinuki techniques. In 2019, he was designated a holder of the Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property for "Bizen Ware Production Techniques" and is highly acclaimed as a leading figure in contemporary Bizen ceramics.
This is an exceptionally powerful tea bowl, fired to a weighty, predominantly black finish in which red-brown clay and yellow-brown kiln effects intersect with striking intensity. Its boldly faceted body, as though cut away into a polyhedral form, shifts dramatically in outline from every angle. Far removed from conventional refinement, its raw sculptural beauty gives it a commanding presence.
The deep black surface carries a subdued, metallic sheen, from which broad areas of richly fired red clay emerge. Yellow-brown kiln effects extend from the rim across the body, creating a superbly complex interplay of black, red, and ochre tones. While using in the clay and firing traditions of Bizen, the bowl fully demonstrates Kakurezaki’s distinctive ability to create entirely new visual landscapes through original form.
Inside, the bowl descends from its intentionally irregular rim into a deep, quietly black-fired well (mikomi). This restrained interior further heightens the dramatic exterior form and kiln transformation. As it is turned in the hand, its planes, colors, and reflections continually change, offering a compelling expression of Kakurezaki’s uniquely sculptural sensibility.
It shows the maturity of the artist's now-restrained and deep expression.