Goto Hideki (b. 1973) is a celebrated contemporary ceramic artist based in Tajimi City. His works meditates upon the origin of pottery in Japan, inherently a volcanic island connected to the sea: He reflects on the grandness of oceanic forms conjured by natural forces. The large waves that crash onto cliff edges, sea foam, and riptides bubbling with power and energy. He articulates this imagery in this series, “Watatsumi 海神,” named after a deity of the sea.

The sea god is conventionally represented in the form of a dragon: a motif associated with water in Japanese mythology. Oceanic motifs like conch shells to ribbed draconic biomorphic shapes come alive through hand-built curvilinear forms and a thick feldspathic Shino glaze. Goto’s work invokes his reverence for the sea god as a bridge between humankind and nature.

He continues to produce ceramics vessels of the Sea God “Watatsumi” mainly with Shino glazes, experimenting with Nezumi shino (gray shino), pink, red, and recently, Black Shino. He also experiments in Kiseto and Oribe. His works maintain the temperament of the clay, and reflect on the expressions and relationships between humanity and nature.

Biography

1973 Born in Miyagi prefecture

1997 Completed the Department of Ceramic Science, Gifu Prefectural Tajimi Technical High

School

2012 Shoroku Award Tea Bowl Exhibition Encouragement Award

2017 Contemporary Tea Pottery (Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum)

2019 JR Nagoya Takashimaya

2022 Solo exhibition at Tosei Kyoto Gallery

Away from the alcove (Minokamo Civic Museum)

2023 Contemporary Expressions: Interpretations of Minoyaki dual show: Goto Hideki & Higashida Shigemasa, Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd.

Selected Public Collections

Phoenix Art Museum

Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum

Minokamo Civic Museum